MONARCH Act of 2025

The MONARCH Act of 2025 would establish a federal fund to address the severe decline of western monarch butterfly populations. The bill would authorize $12.5 million annually through 2030 to support conservation projects that restore and protect monarch habitat, including native milkweed and nectar plants, overwintering sites, and breeding grounds across western states. The funding would also support implementation of the Western Monarch Butterfly Conservation Plan developed by wildlife agencies.

Western monarch populations have declined by over 99 percent since the 1980s, dropping from approximately ten million butterflies to fewer than 10,000 in recent years, primarily due to habitat loss and climate change. The bill would provide grants to states, tribes, and conservation organizations for habitat restoration and protection projects. If enacted, the legislation would represent a significant federal commitment to preventing the extinction of this iconic species and supporting other pollinators that are critical to agriculture and ecosystem health.