Feds on the Clock: New Bill Sets 180-Day Deadline for Wildlife Plan Approvals, Automatic Green Light if Time Runs Out

The "Make State Wildlife Action Plans Efficient Act of 2025" (or, if you like mouthfuls, the "Make SWAPs Efficient Act of 2025") aims to streamline the process states use to get their wildlife conservation and restoration programs approved. Right now, states submit these comprehensive plans, and there's no hard deadline for the feds to give them a thumbs up or down. This bill changes that.

Fast-Track for Wildlife Funding?

This bill amends a piece of legislation called the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act. The core change is that the Secretary (likely referring to the Secretary of the Interior, who oversees agencies like the Fish and Wildlife Service) must approve or deny a state's wildlife conservation and restoration program within 180 days of getting the state's plan. (SEC. 2)

The Auto-Approval Twist

Here's where it gets interesting. If those 180 days pass and the Secretary hasn't acted? Boom – the state's program is automatically approved. Think of it like this: you submit a project proposal at work, and if your boss doesn't get back to you in six months, you're automatically cleared to start. For state wildlife agencies, this could mean quicker access to federal funding for things like habitat restoration, species monitoring, and hunter education programs.

Real-World Ripples

Let's say a state like Montana wants to expand its elk habitat restoration project. Under the current system, they might submit a plan and wait... and wait. With this new 180-day rule, they have a clear timeline. If the feds drag their feet, Montana can, in theory, move forward anyway. This could speed up conservation efforts on the ground.

But, and this is a significant 'but', there's a potential downside. Imagine a state submits a plan that's, shall we say, not quite up to par. If the Secretary's office is swamped (or just misses the deadline for whatever reason), that flawed plan gets the green light. This could mean money going to projects that aren't as effective, or even potentially harmful, to wildlife.

The Bottom Line

The "Make SWAPs Efficient Act" is all about efficiency. It's trying to cut through red tape and get conservation dollars flowing faster. Whether it achieves that without sacrificing careful review is the big question.