Dingell Writes to Department of Agriculture About Rescinded Funding for Legacy Land Conservancy

Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06) today sent a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Brook Rollins expressing concern and requesting the Department of Agriculture (USDA) reconsider its decision to rescind $24.6 million in funding for the Legacy Land Conservancy, based in Ann Arbor. In the letter, Dingell urges USDA to fully and fairly consider an appeal filed by Legacy Land Conservancy to restore the funding. <_u53a_p>

"In June 2025, Legacy Land Conservancy and partners with the Southeast Michigan Conservation Coalition were informed that their $24.6M Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP ) award to preserve 4,000 acres of forest and farmland in southeast Michigan had been rescinded by USDA," Dingell writes. "A majority of the awarded funds were to be used directly by the Southeast Michigan Conservation Coalition to strategically purchase conservation easements on private agricultural and forest lands, which help ensure that the land remains in agricultural production permanently."

"The USDA's decision to rescind the funding is especially concerning given that funding was made available by the 2024 Farm Bill that was appropriated by Congress," Dingell continues. "While the funding was made available by the Farm Bill, USDA rescinded Southeast Michigan Conservation Coalition's award on the basis that it had been reclassified as Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding. On July 10th, 2025, the Legacy Land Conservancy filed an appeal in response to the Administration's decision to rescind this vital funding. I strongly urge USDA to give this appeal serious consideration, as programs have been depending on this funding."

"For five decades, Legacy Land Conservancy has been dedicated to strong protection of both private and public lands, advocating for water quality, habitat corridors, agricultural production, and trails that connect pieces of recreational land to one another," Dingell concludes. "Funding the Legacy Land Conservancy goes far beyond enabling the organization to do this important work. It represents a meaningful investment in Michigan's small businesses, local governments, farmers and ranchers, and conservation leaders... I strongly urge that USDA reconsider its decision to rescind this grant funding, and request that there is full and fair consideration of the appeal that was filed."

View the full text of the letter here.