MONARCH Act of 2025
The MONARCH Act of 2025 aims to halt and reverse the decline of the western migratory monarch butterfly population by creating a dedicated funding mechanism and grant program to support habitat restoration, milkweed planting, overwintering habitat, and other pollinator conservation efforts across the western monarch range (California, Arizona, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Utah). It establishes a Western Monarch Butterfly Rescue Fund in the Treasury to finance grants administered by the Secretary of the Interior, with a strong emphasis on collaboration with local governments, Tribes, research institutions, and non-profit organizations. Implementation is designed to align with a preexisting conservation plan developed by a regional wildlife group and overseen in part through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF). The bill also requires annual Congress reports tracking progress and funding outcomes. The act reflects urgent action to address a dramatic population collapse (well over 99% decline over 30 years) and commits to up to $12.5 million per year (2026–2030) to fund conservation projects, plus administrative support, with broad stakeholder involvement and public reporting to ensure accountability and transparency.
Key Points
- 1Western Monarch Butterfly Rescue Fund: Creates a Treasury-based fund to finance conservation projects, with up to 3% for administrative expenses each fiscal year.
- 2Grant program for conservation projects: Establishes a competitive grant program for eligible entities (local/Tribal governments, research institutions, nonprofits, and other appropriate groups) to implement habitat restoration and other conservation actions for western monarchs and related pollinators.
- 3Federal partnership limitations: State or Federal agencies cannot be lead grantees but can partner or collaborate on funded projects.
- 4Implementation through NFWF: Requires the Secretary to enter an agreement with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to update and implement the Western Monarch Butterfly Conservation Plan (prepared by the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies in 2019); includes specific administration waivers for this arrangement.
- 5Funding and reporting: Authorizes $12.5 million per year (2026–2030) to the Fund and mandates annual reporting to Congress on program progress, project outcomes, and the status of the overall plan.