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Updates from ASLA

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ASLA Advocates Push Back as President's Budget Targets LWCF

The administration’s proposed FY26 budget includes significant cuts to the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), threatening dedicated funding secured under the Great American Outdoors Act. ASLA advocates are joining national partners to oppose this rollback and defend the critical role LWCF plays in supporting parks, public lands, and community green spaces across the country.Read More

ASLA Opposes Proposed Rollback of Endangered Species Protections

The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) has stated strong opposition to a proposed federal rule that would remove habitat destruction from the definition of “harm” under the Endangered Species Act. This change would weaken long-standing protections for endangered wildlife by ignoring the critical role that habitat plays in species survival. ASLA urges the government to maintain the current definition to safeguard biodiversity, ecological resilience, and the health of our communities.Read More

Protecting Federal Landscape Architecture Projects: Advocacy at Work

With the backing of 1,634 member signatures, ASLA met with USDOT officials to highlight the critical role of landscape architecture in green and bike infrastructure projects. The meeting reinforced the value of sustainable design in federal rights-of-way and the importance of keeping our profession at the forefront of national policy.Read More

The Excess Urban Heat Mitigation Act Reintroduced in Congress

The Excess Urban Heat Mitigation Act (S. 1166) was recently reintroduced to Congress by U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), aiming to help communities reduce health and infrastructure risks linked to rising temperatures. The bill would promote landscape architecture techniques like tree planting, shaded transit shelters, green roofs, and parks to combat rising temperatures. The measure would also target underserved communities, which are often hit hardest by extreme heat.Read More

ASLA Acts to Protect Green and Bike Infrastructure

In response to a leaked memo revealing Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy's decision to halt discretionary grants for bike lanes and green infrastructure, 1,634 landscape architecture advocates signed an ASLA letter urging continued funding. The letter highlights the economic, health, and safety benefits of these projects.Read More

Our Beliefs & Our Actions

This campaign highlights the critical federal policies shaping landscape architecture and the strategic actions we’re taking to protect and advance the profession.Read More

Legislation to Reduce Costs of Licensure Introduced

The Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act was recently reintroduced to expand 529 education savings plans to cover career development and certification costs, helping professionals, including landscape architects, manage rising training and licensure expenses.Read More