The federal government shutdown that began just over a week ago has serious implications for conservation and the partnerships we depend on.
What does the shutdown mean for the Federal Agencies that we work with? From the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD):
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has instructed agencies to consider reductions in force (RIFs) for programs whose discretionary funding has lapsed and cannot continue without appropriations. There has been no confirmation of these reductions in force yet, but the risk is real for the agencies that we work with the most – Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Farm Service Agency (FSA), US Forest Service (USFS), US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).
Approximately 96% of NRCS staff and 67% of FSA staff nationwide are furloughed, and activities related to conservation planning, practice implementation, application assistance, and program support are suspended. This relates to EQIP, CSP and RCPP. New applications are not being processed, technical assistance is paused, site visits and checkouts are halted, and program support is nonexistent right now. According to USDA’s Lapse of Funding Plan, most operations under NRCS would cease, except those tied to emergencies or statutory obligations.
In addition, the US Forest Service is only operating essential functions for emergency response, fire suppression, and protection of assets, and routine functions are suspended. Forest Legacy work has been halted, and cooperative agreements are paused.
Resources & Guidance for nonprofits during a shutdown: There are a number of resources and perspectives that may help you or your organization plan, adjust, or advocate:
Alliance for Nonprofit Impact – If you are a nonprofit land trust, please consider registering here. The Alliance provides regular updates and resources for nonprofits in RI, including these upcoming resources: Protecting Nonprofit Missions and Programs in the Face of Attacks on DEI (October 16) and Protecting Your Nonprofit- Essential 501(c)3 Compliance Strategies (October 21).
Land Trust Alliance – Join the LTA 2025 Annual Virtual Policy Discussion on Zoom on October 16th. They should be updating their website soon as well.
Council of Nonprofits — They’ve published a primer on how a shutdown threatens nonprofits’ ability to serve communities, and best practices for managing contracts, cash flow, and uncertainty. National Council of Nonprofits
NonprofitNav — An article, “What does a government shutdown mean for your nonprofit?” walks through impacts, strategies, and what to expect. Nonprofit Nav, LLC
