Doug Burgum Really Blew It At House Natural Resources Budget Hearing

HELENA, MT – Today, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum testified before the House Natural Resources Committee on his FY 2027 budget, once again dodging accountability for his corrupt mismanagement of America’s parks and public lands. Burgum appeared before the committee as unanswered congressional inquiries piled up, including Rep. Jared Huffman’s April 28 letter demanding answers about a secretive scheme to transfer water rights and dam infrastructure to a Southern California water district, a plan that could devastate Northern California tribes and communities while funneling public resources to special interests.

Burgum defended his agency's no-bid reflective pool contract as well as the Lafayette Park fountain replacement, passing blame onto the National Park Service, similar to the Grand Canyon Bravo Dragon wildfire. There is no National Park Service director, and Burgum appointed the current acting director. He also made a series of unsubstantiated claims about National Park staffing levels and seasonal hires, including wildland firefighters. And much like his boss, Burgum dismissed, deflected, and discounted the reality of high gas and energy prices hammering working families' financial well-being. 

In response, Save Our Parks Spokesperson Jayson O’Neill issued the following statement:

“Doug Burgum showed up to Congress today, but he’s been missing in action for the American people since day one. He won’t answer questions about backroom deals, skyrocketing gas and energy prices, no-bid contracts, staffing levels and seasonal hires, and ongoing self-dealing corruption by his subordinates.

“He’s turned a blind eye while his top officials, Karen Budd-Falen, openly brags about lining her pockets. And he’s handed nearly $2 billion in taxpayer money to energy companies to kill affordable clean energy development. Burgum is running a giveaway operation for special interests and well-connected cronies at the expense of Americans’ beloved parks, public lands, and wildlife. Congress deserved real answers today, and they didn’t get them.”

To speak with Save Our Parks spokesperson Jayson O’Neill, email jayson@focalpointstrategygroup.com. 

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