Dear Jack — We’re eager to share some very exciting breaking news:
After months of advocacy, both the House and Senate have officially passed the FY26 Interior Appropriations bill, securing critical funding for America’s wild horses and burros for the year ahead.
This progress didn’t happen by chance. It reflects months of work by AWHC’s government relations team on the ground, the trusted relationships we’ve built with wild horse champions in the bipartisan Wild Horse Caucus, and — just as importantly — supporters like you, Jack, who reached out to your elected officials and demanded better outcomes for our cherished wild herds.
Together, this combination of strategy, relationships, and public pressure made this win possible.
The final bill includes:
- Up to $11 million in funding for immunocontraceptive vaccines, enabling large-scale fertility control implementation
- Expectations from Congress that fertility control programs continue to grow alongside this funding
- Preservation of the slaughter ban, protecting wild horses and burros from commercial exploitation
- No inclusion of permanent sterilization – a rejection of the BLM's past proposals requesting these types of inhumane experiments
This is real progress. But it is not the end of the fight.
In 2026, federal agencies will decide how these funds are implemented, how policies are interpreted, and whether humane reforms are strengthened — or quietly undermined. That’s why AWHC is preparing to expand our government relations work in the year ahead.
We need to be present — consistently — in Washington and beyond:
- Monitoring the implementation of FY26 funding
- Engaging lawmakers and agency leadership
- Defending hard-won protections to ensure they stay intact
- Advancing proactive reforms that keep wild horses on the range
If you’re able, we hope you’ll consider making a donation today to help power AWHC’s government relations and policy efforts in 2026, so this win becomes a foundation, not a ceiling.
Thank you for standing with us, Jack.
With appreciation,
American Wild Horse Conservation
