(September 17, 2026) – WASHINGTON, D.C. – Tonight, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) joined approximately 100 leaders from across the nation’s hunting, fishing, and shooting sports community at the White House, where President Donald J. Trump hosted a Great American Outdoorsmen dinner in the Rose Garden celebrating America’s rich outdoor heritage and the millions of sportsmen and women who play a vital role in conserving our nation’s fish, wildlife, and natural resources. The first ever such celebration of America’s sportsmen and women in the Rose Garden.
During the event, President Trump signed two important Executive Orders for sportsmen and women, “Reinvigorating America’s Hunting Heritage” and “Restoring American Saltwater Angling and Recreation” that will take important steps to improving access, habitat conservation, fish and wildlife management, and our outdoor traditions. The Executive Orders represent another significant step in recognizing the important role that hunting, fishing, recreational shooting, and other outdoor traditions play in conservation, economic opportunity, and the American way of life.
“The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation commends President Trump for bringing together leaders from across the sportsmen’s community and recognizing the tremendous contributions hunters, anglers, trappers, and recreational shooters make to our nation,” said Jeff Crane, President and CEO of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation. “America’s outdoor heritage is one of our nation’s greatest traditions, and today’s event demonstrates the President’s continued commitment to ensuring these traditions remain strong for generations to come.”
The gathering builds upon a series of actions by the Trump Administration recognizing the importance of America’s sportsmen and women. In July 2025, President Trump established the Make America Beautiful Again Commission, an initiative that recognizes the importance of conserving America’s natural resources while expanding opportunities for outdoor recreation, including hunting and fishing. Beautiful Again represents a critical commitment to America’s sportsmen and women and our nation’s conservation efforts.
The President has also recognized the contributions of America’s recreational shooting community through National Shooting Sports Month, highlighting both the nation’s longstanding shooting traditions and the critical conservation funding generated by participants in the shooting sports through the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act. This event and Executive Order come in the lead-up to National Hunting and Fishing Day, which will be held on September 26th in honor of the impact sportsmen and women have on America’s rich conservation legacy.
“Sportsmen and women are America’s most important conservationists,” said Taylor Schmitz, Senior Vice President and COO of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation. “Through the purchase of hunting and fishing licenses, excise taxes on firearms, ammunition, archery equipment and fishing equipment, and their direct contributions of time and resources, America’s sportsmen provide billions of dollars for fish and wildlife conservation. This event and these Executive Orders reinforce the importance of keeping our public lands and waters accessible and our outdoor traditions thriving.”
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation looks forward to working with the Administration, Congress, state fish and wildlife agencies, and the broader sportsmen’s community to continue to advance policies that protect and enhance opportunities for hunting, fishing, recreational shooting, and other outdoor activities.