By The Fence Post (Via American Wild Horse Conservation)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last week, Congress took decisive action to prioritize humane wild horse and burro management practices over controversial helicopter roundups. President Joe Biden signed into law a $460 billion package of fiscal year 24 spending bills on Saturday, March 9, narrowly averting a government shutdown.
Among the provisions was a significant spending cut for the Bureau of Land Management’s Wild Horse and Burro Program budget, emphasizing the need for a shift toward humane and sustainable in-the-wild conservation strategies.
The bill allocates $141.9 million for the BLM program, marking a $5.9 million reduction from last year’s budget. Notably, the legislation preserves $11 million in funding specifically designated for the implementation of a robust, humane fertility control program, as advocated by both House and Senate versions of the bill.