National Hunting and Fishing Day – Presidential Actions

9/27/2025

Briefings & Statements

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Action Summary

Event Recognition: National Hunting and Fishing Day celebrated nationwide on September 27, 2025, honoring American traditions of hunting, fishing, and conservation.
Core Values: Emphasizes freedom, self-reliance, and stewardship as embodied by generations of hunters, anglers, and sportsmen.
Conservation Achievements: Highlights first term successes including the Great American Outdoors Act, which:
- Designated 1.3 million acres of new wilderness areas.
- Added 1,645 miles to the National Recreational Trails System.
- Expanded hunting and fishing opportunities across more than 2.3 million acres.
New Executive Action: Establishment of the Make America Beautiful Again Commission, aimed at:
- Expanding recreational access to public lands and waters.
- Incentivizing conservation efforts and promoting active forest management.
- Ensuring proper stewardship of public lands and maintaining high environmental standards.
Long-term Vision: Commitment to preserving the nation’s natural beauty for future generations while supporting economic prosperity.

Risks & Considerations

The Executive Order’s focus on expanding recreational access to public lands and waters may lead to increased environmental impact and the need for enhanced conservation efforts. This could require additional resources and collaboration with environmental agencies.
Incentivizing conservation efforts and promoting active forest management may necessitate changes in land use policies, potentially affecting local communities and stakeholders involved in land management.
The establishment of the Make America Beautiful Again Commission could lead to new regulatory frameworks that Vanderbilt University may need to navigate, particularly if involved in environmental research or land management projects.
Vanderbilt University may need to consider how these changes in public land use and conservation policies could impact its research initiatives, particularly those related to environmental science and sustainability.

Impacted Programs

Vanderbilt’s Environmental Science and Sustainability Programs may see increased demand for research and expertise in conservation and land management, presenting opportunities for collaboration with federal and state agencies.
The Vanderbilt Institute for Energy and Environment could play a crucial role in supporting research initiatives related to clean air and water standards, aligning with the Executive Order’s goals.
Vanderbilt’s partnerships with local and national environmental organizations may need to be reevaluated to ensure alignment with the new conservation and recreational access policies.

Financial Impact

The expansion of recreational access and conservation efforts could lead to new funding opportunities for Vanderbilt University, particularly in areas related to environmental research and sustainability.
Vanderbilt may need to adjust its grant application strategies to align with the priorities of the Make America Beautiful Again Commission and other related federal initiatives.
There may be increased opportunities for Vanderbilt to secure funding for research and development in environmental policy and conservation, particularly through collaborations with the Department of the Interior and other federal agencies.

Relevance Score: 3 (The order presents moderate risks typically involving compliance or ethics, with potential impacts on research and funding opportunities.)

Key Actions

Vanderbilt’s Environmental Science Department should explore opportunities to collaborate with the Make America Beautiful Again Commission. By engaging in research and projects that align with the Commission’s goals, the department can contribute to national conservation efforts and enhance its research portfolio.
The Office of Federal Relations should monitor developments related to the expansion of recreational access to public lands and waters. Understanding these changes can help Vanderbilt identify potential research and educational opportunities that align with federal priorities.
Vanderbilt’s Sustainability and Environmental Management Office should assess the potential impacts of incentivized conservation efforts and active forest management on university-owned lands. This assessment can guide the development of sustainable practices and policies that align with national conservation goals.
The Department of Political Science should conduct research on the socio-economic impacts of expanded recreational access and conservation policies. This research can provide valuable insights into how these policies affect communities and contribute to public discourse on environmental stewardship.

Opportunities

The executive order presents an opportunity for Vanderbilt’s Outdoor Recreation Program to expand its offerings and partnerships. By leveraging increased access to public lands, the program can enhance its outdoor education and recreation initiatives, attracting more students and community members.
Vanderbilt can capitalize on the focus on clean air and water standards by developing interdisciplinary research initiatives that address environmental health and sustainability. This could include collaborations between the School of Engineering, the School of Medicine, and the College of Arts and Science.
The emphasis on economic prosperity through conservation efforts offers an opportunity for Vanderbilt’s Owen Graduate School of Management to engage in policy analysis and business development. By providing evidence-based recommendations, the school can influence how conservation policies are implemented to support economic growth.

Relevance Score: 3 (Some adjustments are needed to processes or procedures to align with new conservation and recreational access policies.)

Average Relevance Score: 2

Timeline for Implementation

N/A – No explicit deadlines or directives to implement are provided; the text is primarily celebratory and commemorative.

Relevance Score: 1

Impacted Government Organizations

Make America Beautiful Again Commission: Established by the Executive Order, this new Commission is tasked with coordinating efforts to expand recreational access to public lands and waters while promoting conservation and active forest management.
Department of the Interior: As the primary steward of the nation’s public lands and waters, this department is central to implementing conservation achievements such as those enacted under the Great American Outdoors Act.
U.S. Forest Service: Operating under the Department of Agriculture, this agency is implicated in the active forest management and maintenance of recreational opportunities on national forests.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): With a mandate to ensure clean air and drinking water, the EPA is indirectly impacted by initiatives that set high environmental standards to maintain America’s natural heritage.

Relevance Score: 2 (Between three and five agencies are impacted by the initiatives outlined in the statement.)

Responsible Officials

N/A – The statement celebrates National Hunting and Fishing Day and outlines broad conservation and recreational access priorities without assigning implementation responsibilities to specific officials.

Relevance Score: 1 (The directives do not specify particular officials or agencies for implementation.)