Following the termination of the $14 million annual grant to the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF), the Interior Department’s decision has sparked significant debate about the role of federal funding in promoting outdoor recreation and the accountability of nonprofit organizations that receive such support. The grant, which originally allocated $14 million per year, was part of a larger multi-year program that had already distributed over $164 million since 2012. With the full amount of the grant now at risk, critics argue that the program could be a significant loss for the fishing industry, potentially affecting the livelihoods of thousands of Americans involved in the sector.
RBFF, a nonprofit organization based in Alexandria, Virginia, has long been known for its efforts to promote fishing activities through initiatives like the