Congress has passed a continuing resolution to fund the federal government through January 30, 2026, maintaining fiscal year 2025 funding levels for the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Wild Horse and Burro Program. This extension preserves existing protections against horse slaughter, safeguarding approximately 62,000 wild horses and burros currently in government care.
American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC) applauds the continuation of these protections but emphasizes the need for Congress to redirect funding toward more humane and cost-effective management strategies. Currently, the BLM’s helicopter roundup and removal program remains funded, a practice that is both costly—exceeding $100 million annually—and controversial.
AWHC advocates for increased investment in fertility control programs and in-the-wild management solutions, which have proven to be scalable and more fiscally responsible. Bipartisan support in Congress has already called for such shifts in the FY 2026 appropriations process, including an $11 million allocation for humane management.
The temporary nature of this continuing resolution offers an opportunity for lawmakers to prioritize science-based, humane approaches in the upcoming full-year appropriations. AWHC commits to working with Congress to ensure that final funding maintains slaughter protections while enhancing investments in fertility control and on-range management, reflecting both fiscal responsibility and ethical treatment of wild horses.
American Wild Horse Conservation is the nation’s leading nonprofit dedicated to preserving free-roaming wild horses and burros, operating the world’s largest wild horse fertility control program in partnership with Nevada. The organization continues to build bipartisan coalitions to protect these iconic herds for future generations.
