Maine secures spruce budworm prevention funding for forest industry
Federal funding is moving into place in Maine as officials work to contain spruce budworm before a critical spraying window closes. The $10 million release supports efforts to protect a forest products industry that backs about 30,000 jobs across the state's 16 counties.
Highlights
- The U.S. Forest Service signed a grant agreement with Maine to release $10 million from the FY 2026 Interior bill for spruce budworm prevention.
- The $10 million joins $14 million in supplemental appropriations secured in 2024, enabling timely deployment of spraying and treatment in Maine's forests.
- Maine's forest products industry, supporting about 30,000 jobs across all 16 counties, faces significant economic risks without effective budworm prevention efforts.
Grant agreement clears funds for treatment
As reported by the Senate Committee on Appropriations, U.S. Senator Susan Collins said the U.S. Forest Service has signed a grant agreement with the State of Maine to release $10 million she secured in the Fiscal Year 2026 Interior appropriations bill for spruce budworm prevention.The announcement follows Collins' push last week for faster access to the money. At a hearing, she pressed Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz to commit to a quick release so spraying can proceed during what she described as a critical period for limiting the pest's spread.
Forestry jobs and regional risks
Maine's economy remains closely tied to its forest base, with Collins stating that 88% of the state is covered by forests. She said the forest products industry supports about 30,000 jobs across all 16 counties, underscoring the economic stakes tied to successful treatment efforts.The new funding adds to $14 million Collins secured in supplemental appropriations in 2024 for spraying and treatment in Maine's forests. Collins said the latest funds can now be deployed in time for spraying to occur when it is most effective to help preserve the industry.
Our earlier article on the OMB apportionments website dispute explained how congressional appropriators are pushing to restore public access to real-time data showing how taxpayer funds are allocated. It outlined the court fight over the takedown of the legally required transparency site and why lawmakers argue the information is essential to oversight and to ensuring agencies distribute appropriated money within statutory limits.
Latest Government News
-
Afghanistan
-
Albania
-
Algeria
-
Angola
-
Argentina
-
Armenia
-
Australia
-
Austria
-
Azerbaijan
-
Bahamas
-
Bahrain
-
Bangladesh
-
Belarus
-
Belgium
-
Bolivia
-
Botswana
-
Brazil
-
Brunei
-
Bulgaria
-
Cambodia
-
Cameroon
-
Canada
-
Chile
-
China
-
Colombia
-
Congo
-
Costa Rica
-
Cote d'Ivoire
-
Croatia
-
Cuba
-
Cyprus
-
Czechia
-
DR Congo
-
Denmark
-
Dominican Republic
-
Ecuador
-
Egypt
-
El Salvador
-
Estonia
-
Eswatini
-
Ethiopia
-
Finland
-
France
-
Georgia
-
Germany
-
Ghana
-
Greece
-
Haiti
-
Hong Kong
-
Hungary
-
India
-
Indonesia
-
Iran, Islamic republic
-
Iraq
-
Ireland
-
Israel
-
Italy
-
Jamaica
-
Japan
-
Jordan
-
Kazakhstan
-
Kenya
-
Korea
-
Kuwait
-
Kyrgyzstan
-
Laos
-
Latvia
-
Lebanon
-
Lesotho
-
Libya
-
Lithuania
-
Luxembourg
-
Madagascar
-
Malaysia
-
Malta
-
Mauritius
-
Mexico
-
Moldova
-
Mongolia
-
Montenegro
-
Morocco
-
Mozambique
-
Myanmar
-
Namibia
-
Nepal
-
Netherlands
-
New Zealand
-
Nigeria
-
North Macedonia
-
Norway
-
Oman
-
Pakistan
-
Palestine
-
Panama
-
Papua New Guinea
-
Paraguay
-
Peru
-
Philippines
-
Poland
-
Portugal
-
Puerto Rico
-
Qatar
-
Reunion
-
Romania
-
Rwanda
-
Saudi Arabia
-
Serbia
-
Singapore
-
Slovakia
-
Slovenia
-
Somalia
-
South Africa
-
Spain
-
Sri Lanka
-
Sweden
-
Switzerland
-
Syria
-
Taiwan
-
Tajikistan
-
Tanzania
-
Thailand
-
Trinidad and Tobago
-
Tunisia
-
Turkey
-
UAE
-
Uganda
-
Ukraine
-
United Kingdom
-
United States
-
Uruguay
-
Uzbekistan
-
Venezuela
-
Vietnam
-
Yemen
-
Zambia
-
Zimbabwe
- Forex
- Crypto
