The U.S. Forest Service announced it is distributing over $52 million to support local emergency services, schools and roads. In total, 65 counties will benefit from these funds under the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act.
"These funds represent 25 percent of the revenue generated from management of federally administered grasslands in these communities. The payments help ensure local communities share in the economic benefits from the land," said Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz. "The funds are used to support local schools and infrastructure like roads, while reinforcing the value these lands provide to the American people."
Funding breakdown:
| State | Counties receiving payments | Total payment |
| North Dakota | 9 | $41,386,724 |
| Colorado | 4 | $6,747,437 |
| Wyoming | 5 | $2,488,079 |
| Texas | 5 | $521,249 |
| Kansas | 2 | $434,304 |
| Oklahoma | 1 | $342,172 |
| All other states | 39 | $104,283 |
| Total | 65 | $52,024,248 |
A complete list of recipients is available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/working-with-us/secure-rural-schools/bankhead-jones-payments.
Revenue was generated from receipts primarily consisting of mineral development collected by the Department of the Interior's Office of Natural Resources Revenue and grazing revenues collected by the Forest Service during the 2025 calendar year.
The Forest Service manages 20 national grasslands for multiple uses, including grazing, energy development and natural resource conservation. To learn more about these payments to counties, visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/working-with-us/secure-rural-schools/bankhead-jones-payments
About the Forest Service: The Forest Service has brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation for more than 100 years. Grounded in world-class science and technology—and rooted in communities—the Forest Service connects people to nature and recreation opportunities. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, supports the nation's forest industry and energy needs, and operates the largest and most respected wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. By providing assistance to state and private landowners and working with Tribes and other partners, the Forest Service also helps steward an additional 900 million forested acres within the U.S.