Funding comes after passage of Wyden/Merkley/Crapo/Risch bill to reauthorize Secure Rural Schools Program
(Washington, D.C. – February 23, 2026) – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that nearly $49 million in retroactive federal funding from the U.S. Forest Service for fiscal year 2024 will be coming to Oregon counties following the passage of their bipartisan bill late last year to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program, with more to come when the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces its payments for the 18 Oregon & California counties.
Wyden first authored the law that created the SRS program in 2000. Funding for the program lapsed in September 2023, and counties in Oregon and nationwide have not received payments since early 2024. The bill to reauthorize the program had previously passed the Senate, but stalled twice in the House, delaying crucial funding for rural schools, law enforcement, and infrastructure projects.
“Secure Rural Schools is a lifeline for rural communities in Oregon and across the country,” Wyden said. “It’s about damn time these funds get distributed to the counties that need them, and this lapse in funding is exactly why we need a permanent solution to get rural communities off the financial rollercoaster and ensure they have the funds they need, and that’s what I’ll be focused on in the months ahead.”
“SRS payments are a lifeline for rural communities here in Oregon and across America—supporting our schools, public safety, and wildfire preparedness,” said Merkley. “This nearly $49 million in federal funds ensures counties with federal forest lands have the resources they need to stay safe and resilient.”
Tillamook County will be receiving $617,965; Lincoln County will be receiving $1,249,130.