Sky Island Alliance receives federal funding through multiple land management agencies to implement conservation science, restoration, and community programs both in the U.S. and Mexico. The Trump administration’s unprecedented/illegal pause and review of granting programs is directly impacting our work.
Additionally, we work in collaboration with federal agencies on conservation projects across the region, and these agencies’ integrity and work is being threatened by the administration’s actions. Below are frequently asked questions from this week and answers reflecting what we know now during this uncertain time. We’ve also included actions you can take.
How much of Sky Island Alliance’s work is federally funded?
Federal grants make up 41% of our 2025 budget. We currently have four grants from the U.S. Forest Service, one from the Bureau of Land Management, two from the National Park Service, one from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and we are a sub-awardee of a grant from the Bureau of Reclamation. We’ve also been awarded four additional grants from the Forest Service and National Park Service that were not yet signed when the federal funding freeze was announced. These pending agreements are either on pause for review by Trump’s administration or in danger of not coming through if the funding for the agreement is not appropriated by Congress this year.
Since the funding freeze was stopped by the courts, is SIA’s project funding restored?
Unfortunately, many of our grant funds remain inaccessible, and payments for work completed from November 2024 through January 2025 have not been made to Sky Island Alliance. The status of each grant and the reason for the continuing funding freeze varies by federal agency. Multiple grants are under federal programs that were funded by Congress during past appropriations. But these funding sources are now under review for compliance with Trump’s recent executive orders. And whether those orders are constitutionally legal is itself working its way now through the courts.
Is the funding just temporarily paused or at risk to be lost?
We don’t know at this point if some or all of our grant agreements will be canceled as a result of the administrative program review. Even if programs aren’t canceled, it’s possible that the congressional reconciliation process could reallocate the appropriated funds for our grants, and the grants could be defunded.
Without federal funding, will Sky Island Alliance have to stop working in the region?
Absolutely not! Our conservation work addresses vital needs in the region, and we are committed to staying focused and on track. We are incredibly grateful to have a diversified funding portfolio, which includes generous support from individual donors, private foundations, and a grant from the state of Arizona. While we are facing a budget shortfall this year if federal funding is not restored, we have temporary funding in place to continue our Spring Seeker and spring rescue projects across southern Arizona and northern Sonora; road rewilding and Bighorn Fire erosion-control work in the Coronado National Forest; regenerative ranching projects and bird surveys in Sonora; and wildlife monitoring through our Border Wildlife Study and FotoFauna program.
We will vocally advocate for the continuation of our programs and to protect the federal funding and agencies that are vital to conservation here in the Sky Islands and across the country.
How can you help advocate for the Sky Islands right now?
Call your U.S. senators and ask them to use their power to stop business as usual and fight back on the federal funding freeze by:
- Doing everything in their power to protect jobs and funding for land management agencies and the Bilateral Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act.
And if you live in Arizona:
- Tell them the state’s economy will be severely impacted by the loss of federal funding and jobs. In 2016, nonprofits in Arizona represented 7.7% of non-government employment in the state, and the nonprofit sector generates more than 8% of the state’s gross product.
Stay up to date on what’s happening through local and independent news sources like Arizona Luminaria and other trusted organizations. And follow the latest challenges to the Trump administration.
As the situation develops, we will alert you to additional actions you can take to resolve this issue and stand up for the Sky Islands. If you’re not yet signed up for our biweekly e-newsletter, make sure to sign up so you’re in the loop.