Latest news with #RBFF
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
DOGE Cancels ‘Take Me Fishing,' Even Though It Was Funded by Anglers
This month the Department of Governmental Efficiency canceled funding to the nonprofit organization that offers learn-to-fish programs all across America. As a result, the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation has been forced to pause programs like Take Me Fishing and events with state fish and game agencies. Grant funding for many conservation-based organizations was frozen earlier this year, and sources say RBFF and other fishing industry stakeholders struggled to receive clarity on the funding. As a result, RBFF had to furlough eight of its 16 employees on June 6, just days before the Department of the Interior announced it was terminating the grant award, which the agency has been receiving and distributing since 1998. 'We kept some [employees] in place because we were hopeful the funds would come through, but we're not sure what that looks like now that we received a termination letter,' says RBFF chief operating officer Stephanie Vatalaro. 'At some point soon, we'll run out of the remaining funds and those of us left will move on.' While RBFF did receive $13.7 million in federal funding in 2024, according to the organization's most recent financial statement, none of those funds come from general taxpayer dollars. Instead, the RBFF is funded through the much-celebrated excise tax on fishing tackle and boating equipment. In fact, the RBFF was established to cooperate with the USFWS in compliance with a federal law established 27 years ago; RBFF has worked closely with the sportfishing industry and state agencies to grow fishing participation and reinvest in the outdoor economy. RBFF says its has helped increase fishing participation to record-high levels last year and contributed to the sportfishing and boating industries, which both contribute $230 billion apiece in economic impact, along with nearly 2 million total jobs and billions in tax revenue. 'Alarmingly, in just the past few months since RBFF's funding has been terminated, fishing license sales are down 8.6 percent across 16 states, representing the loss of over $590 million in angler spending and 5,600 jobs,' RBFF told Outdoor Life in a statement. 'These figures signal that the industry and the economic activity it drives could be at severe risk.' The grant funding terminated by DOGE cannot help offset the national debt without an act of Congress. 'The industry really looks to RBFF to promote fishing,' says American Sportfishing Association public affairs manager Rob Shane. 'Participation is huge for the industry because license sales and the self-imposed excise tax dollars really fund a lot of the conservation that happens at the state and tribal and territory level. With less people fishing, you're going to have less fishing licenses, you're going to have less excise taxes on sportfishing equipment. And all that is going to result in less, or lost access to fisheries — both in the form of physical access … and access in the sense that people aren't going to know how to fish. [This will eventually] result in less access, less conservation dollars, less habitat restoration, less stocking, less research — less you name it.' On June 10 the Department of the Interior officially terminated the RBFF's grant in a letter that appeared to emphasize that the awarded funding 'no longer meets program goals or DOI priorities.' 'We were working very hard behind the scenes, with members of Congress, their staff, and staff at Interior to figure out where the funding was, whether it was going to be released, and when it was going to be released. That time table kept getting pushed back and back and back,' says Shane. 'That was our frustration in some respects, this all happened without any transparent or open communication with RBFF and with the industry.' At least one lawmaker on the DOGE Caucus told Fox News, which broke the story of the grant funding cuts Monday, that she had taken issue with RBFF's $2 million contract with Disney and a $5 million contract with a Minnesota creative agency, Colle McVoy. 'I am proud to have exposed bloated overhead costs and worked with Secretary Burgum to ensure tax dollars collected to boost fishing are not siphoned into the pockets of slick D.C.-based consultants,' Senate DOGE Caucus chairwoman and Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst (R) told the outlet.'There's more pork in the sea, and I am going to keep fishing for it!' She also objected to the salaries of some RBFF executives, which range from $102,000 to $274,900 at the highest level, and are comparable (or in many cases, substantially less than) the salaries of other conservation org executives. Ernst's own salary, which is funded by general taxpayers, is $174,000 annually. Ernst's office did not respond to a request for comment Monday; neither did the DOGE Caucus. But to Vatalaro of RBFF, those contracts have historically proven essential to help her team fulfill the terms of the grant they've been awarded for nearly three decades. For instance, a PSA about fishing — the Find Your Best Self campaign created by that Minnesota-based creative agency — won Best Total Campaign in AdWeek last year. 'If you're running a national integrated marketing campaign, it's absolutely critical to have an agency on board. We are a small group of 16 people. It extends our staff and gives us knowledge we don't have … We also have what's called a corporate alliance agreement with Disney. We know that youth are super important to fishing participation.' Research by RBFF, which also specializes in key research for the sportfishing industry, has shown that 'if you don't start fishing by the age of 12, it's basically not going to happen as an adult,' says Vatalaro. 'If you want to reach kids, Disney is the place to go. They're all watching their programs, there is an advertising component, and there are fishing locations inside Disney World where guests can [get a] charter and go bass fishing, and they get packet of information so when they go home, they have resources to learn to fish … If you look at a Nike or Coca Cola, they'd probably spend what we spend in a year on, I don't know, one Easter campaign.' Vatalaro notes that the RBFF is already subject to extensive oversight and accountability. 'One thing that's been challenging for us is we have been put in a light that we may not jive with agency priorities … We're governed by a 25-member board made up of state and industry leaders. We undergo annual audits, federal reporting, quarterly meetings with our federal partners — and we feel like we've done a very good job of meeting their needs and being as efficient as possible.' It's also not immediately clear how much, if any, of the funding cuts were related to what officials deemed frivolous expenses, or if the grant termination was related to the Trump Administration's executive order to roll back Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programming. RBFF programming includes opportunities for urban fishing and a Spanish-language version of Take Me Fishing, called Vamos a Pescar. (In addition to federal funding through sportfishing excise taxes, Vamos a Pescar is partially funded by a George H.W. Bush education fund that Bass Pro Shops helped establish.) Vatalaro says the only communication RBFF received from DOGE was the agency's June 10 letter. Marine Retailers Association of the Americas president Matt Gruhn says he was 'deeply disappointed' to see the termination of the grant, which RBFF has 'successfully executed for more than 25 years.' 'RBFF has been a responsible steward of these boat fuel taxes paid by our industry from the very beginning with oversight from the very stakeholders that paid into the fund that RBFF's grant originates from,' Gruhn told OL in an emailed statement, 'as well as passing every audit with flying colors.' The fishing industry stands to lose much more than they gain with feds clawing back a few million dollars in contracts, according to sources. Currently 95 percent of boats sold in America are made in America, according to RBFF, and the boating industry alone creates $26.9 billion in tax revenue. RBFF hopes to reapply for the same grant with a refined proposal that the organization tailored to meet DOGE's concerns, but they have not yet had an opportunity to do so. 'We're prepared to meet the priorities of the current administration, who is looking for efficiency, lower costs, etcetera. It's just bee a little disappointing we haven't had that opportunity,' says Vatalaro. 'At the end of the day, we all want the same thing. Which is a stronger outdoor economy, broader participation, and really robust conservation funding for that next generation of participations. So we'd like to collaborate and keep things going so we can do even more in the future.' In the meantime 27 years of institutional knowledge is at risk, points out Shane. While the American Sportfishing Association isn't opposed to innovation or shaking things up, the RBFF has successfully reinvested in the sportfishing industry — and developed a thriving working relationship with all 50 state agencies and the industry. That will take time to recreate, says Shane, which the fishing industry may not have to spare. Read Next: Breaking: Mike Lee's Public Land Sale Plan Is Dead 'We just saw Congress try to sell off millions of acres of public land without transparent or appropriate processes, and it was hunters and anglers and other sportsmen who show up for something like that and tell them 'No.' And if we lose those hunters and anglers over the course of how many years before that proposal comes up again? The fewer people you have who care about those resources and participate in those resources, fewer people are going to stick up for those resources when that proposal comes back. Because we know it will.'
Fox News
30-06-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Interior cancels $14M annual fishing grant cited in Fox report after DOGE highlights Disney ads, salaries
Print Close By Charles Creitz Published June 30, 2025 EXCLUSIVE: A multi-year grant to a Washington-area nonprofit focused on promoting fishing, boating and outdoor activities was canceled by the Interior Department after Senate DOGE leadership flagged the original Fox News Digital report to the Cabinet agency. More than $26 million has already been paid out – on top of $164 million since 2012 – to the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF), based in Alexandria, Virginia. From the government website USA Spending, the grant's purpose highlights RBFF's "Take Me Fishing" consumer campaign that includes a social and digital media component, as well as ads on Walt Disney Company-branded streaming services and "mobile fishing units" that cater to urban communities and "underserved audiences." At least $40.5 million will be saved in the near-term, the Senate DOGE Caucus told Fox News Digital, citing Interior's response. DOGE SENATOR TELLS OUTDOORS GROUP TO 'GO FISH' AFTER DISCOVERING MASSIVE GRANT TIED TO HIGH SALARIES "Today's catch of the day is Washington waste," said Senate DOGE Caucus Chairwoman Joni Ernst, R-Iowa. "I am proud to have exposed bloated overhead costs and worked with Secretary Burgum to ensure tax dollars collected to boost fishing are not siphoned into the pockets of slick D.C.-based consultants." "There's more pork in the sea, and I am going to keep fishing for it!" Burgum's office struck a similar tone, saying the agency is committed to fiscal responsibility, efficiency and accountability – while still fully supporting the recreational boating, fishing and outdoors industries. A spokeswoman for the agency, which oversees the National Park Service that provides outlets for all of the above, said that "under President Donald J. Trump's leadership, we are ensuring that every taxpayer dollar serves a clear purpose and aligns with our core mission." "Following a review of discretionary spending, the Department determined that the use of this particular [RBFF] grant had not demonstrated sufficient alignment with program goals or responsible stewardship of taxpayer resources," Charlotte Taylor said. The grant, largely funded by excise taxes on fishing poles, came under DOGE scrutiny when Ernst discovered an RBFF contract with Disney worth $1.99 million plus hundreds of thousands in "SEO consulting," and $5 million to a Minnesota creative media development agency. Several RBFF executives are paid from the mid-$100,000s on up. DOGE CAUCUS SENATOR PUSHES FOR END TO SLUSH FUND FOR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES In part of a lengthy response to the grant's cancellation, RBFF officials told Fox News Digital the organization has "devised a plan we believe would meet the goals and priorities of the administration, which includes adjusted employee compensation, reduced headcount and updated investment priorities." But the group claimed it has not been able to connect directly with DOGE or Interior during the grant review process "despite repeated outreach attempts during the past three months." A source familiar with the situation indicated the group had met with Ernst's office, and Taylor said Burgum's office did meet with RBFF in Washington earlier this month and has been in contact "multiple" times: "Anything to say otherwise is inaccurate." "Since 1998, [RBFF] has helped build what has become a $230.5 billion industry that supports 1.1 million American jobs, generates $263 million in tax revenue, and contributes $2 billion annually to fisheries and conservation efforts in all 50 states," RBFF's statement continued. "Alarmingly, in just the past two months since RBFF's funding has been paused, fishing license sales are down 8.6% across 16 states, representing the loss of over $590 million in angler spending and 5,600 jobs." Several other groups came to RBFF's defense. Matt Gruhn, president of the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, told Fox News Digital he was disappointed in Interior's decision to terminate the grant. "[RBFF's] work was pivotal to enhancing the recreational boating and fishing industry's recruitment, retention and reactivation efforts. Their training and resources vastly improved state agency processes and marketing and has made boating and fishing licensing and registration far easier for Americans," Gruhn said. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "RBFF has been a responsible steward of these taxpayer dollars from the very beginning, with oversight from the very stakeholders that paid into the fund that RBFF's grant originates from, as well as passing every audit with flying colors." Additionally, the head of the American Sportfishing Association warned of the "severe impact" the loss of grant money will have on the outdoors industry. CEO Glenn Hughes said his organization's members agreed in 1950 to self-impose a tax on fishing rods to reinvest back into the industry and bolster license sales, habitat conservation and more. The RBFF's "Take Me Fishing" campaign began in 1998 with congressional funding from the tackle tax. Hughes claimed the effort has generated a total of $230.5 billion in economic impact since. "Without consultation and coordination with the recreational fishing industry, the Department of the Interior decided to withhold critical funding from RBFF, ultimately ending a 27-year history of increasing fishing participation and efforts to bolster the economic impact of the fishing industry." Print Close URL
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
DOGE senator tells outdoors group to 'go fish' after discovering massive grant tied to high salaries
EXCLUSIVE: A top DOGE leader in the Senate is trying to reel in a massive federal grant from a nonprofit focused on promoting fishing, boating and outdoors that she alleges is being used to pad executive salaries, a characterization the organization rejected. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, and her colleagues have been scouring federal grants for appearances of waste, fraud or abuse of taxpayer funds, and came upon a $27 million grant to the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (Rbff). More than $26 million of the grant had been paid out, and long-term figures showed RBFF received $164 million in funding since 2012, with nearly $13 million of that coming in 2024. From the government website USA Spending, the grant's purpose highlights RBFF's "Take Me Fishing" consumer campaign that includes a social and digital media component, as well as ads on Walt Disney Company-branded streaming services and "mobile fishing units" that cater to urban communities and "underserved audiences." Doge Madness: Sweet-16 Bracket Set Up For Craziest Federal Wastes To Compete For Championship The Disney contract is worth $1.99 million, and other expenditures included $204,000 in SEO consulting, $5 million to a Minnesota agency for media, creative development and design, and $189,000 to an Atlanta hotel. Read On The Fox News App The Alexandria, Virginia-based nonprofit recorded six-figure salaries for several top officials, totaling more than $1.5 million. The group's president is reportedly paid about $318,000 per year. Most others fell in the mid-$100s. However, RBFF officials defended their work in a statement to Fox News Digital, and suggested government funds are being spent responsibly. "RBFF has a proud tradition of attracting Americans to the sport of fishing and boating," the statement read. Doge Caucus Senator Pushes For End To Slush Fund For Presidential Candidates "By significantly increasing participation over the past 10 years, local communities, independently-owned businesses and manufacturers have directly benefited from increased spending." RBFF said American anglers contribute nearly $150 billion in economic output and 1 million jobs nationwide. "In fact, we know that fishing produces $1,500 in commerce per participant per year – a figure that drives economic activity in every state in the union," the organization said. "We are wholly funded via a competitive grant that is awarded through the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service via the Sport Fish Restoration excise tax, and our organization is supported by state fish and wildlife agencies, as well as industry manufacturers and retailers from Alaska to Florida." Ernst was not convinced, telling Fox News Digital that "Washington fell hook, line, and sinker into padding the pockets of overpriced recreational consultants." She quipped that "special interests" should instead be told "to 'go fish.'" "The Department of Interior needs to claw back the remaining $650,000 and tell these consultants that there are other fish in the sea." Fox News Digital also reached out to the Interior Department for further comment on the grant, which preceded the current agency article source: DOGE senator tells outdoors group to 'go fish' after discovering massive grant tied to high salaries
Fox News
27-03-2025
- Business
- Fox News
DOGE senator tells outdoors group to 'go fish' after discovering massive grant tied to high salaries
EXCLUSIVE: A top DOGE leader in the Senate is trying to reel in a massive federal grant from a nonprofit focused on promoting fishing, boating and outdoors she alleges is being used to pad executive salaries, a characterization the organization rejected. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, and her colleagues have been scouring federal grants for appearances of waste, fraud or abuse of taxpayer funds, and came upon a $27 million grant to the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF). More than $26 million of the grant had been paid out, and long-term figures showed RBFF received $164 million in funding since 2012, with nearly $13 million of that coming in 2024. From the government website USA Spending, the grant's purpose highlights RBFF's "Take Me Fishing" consumer campaign that includes a social and digital media component, as well as ads on Walt Disney Company-branded streaming services and "mobile fishing units" that cater to urban communities and "underserved audiences." The Disney contract is worth $1.99 million, and other expenditures included $204,000 in SEO consulting, $5 million to a Minnesota agency for media, creative development and design, and $189,000 to an Atlanta hotel. The Alexandria, Virginia-based nonprofit recorded six-figure salaries for several top officials, totaling more than $1.5 million. The group's president is reportedly paid about $318,000 per year. Most others fell in the mid-$100s. However, RBFF officials defended their work in a statement to Fox News Digital, and suggested government funds are being spent responsibly. "RBFF has a proud tradition of attracting Americans to the sport of fishing and boating," the statement read. "By significantly increasing participation over the past 10 years, local communities, independently-owned businesses and manufacturers have directly benefited from increased spending." RBFF said American anglers contribute nearly $150 billion in economic output and 1 million jobs nationwide. "In fact, we know that fishing produces $1,500 in commerce per participant per year – a figure that drives economic activity in every state in the union," the organization said. "We are wholly funded via a competitive grant that is awarded through the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service via the Sport Fish Restoration excise tax, and our organization is supported by state fish and wildlife agencies, as well as industry manufacturers and retailers from Alaska to Florida." Ernst was not convinced, telling Fox News Digital that "Washington fell hook, line, and sinker into padding the pockets of overpriced recreational consultants." She quipped that "special interests" should instead be told "to 'go fish.'" "The Department of Interior needs to claw back the remaining $650,000 and tell these consultants that there are other fish in the sea." Fox News Digital also reached out to the Interior Department for further comment on the grant, which preceded the current agency leadership.
