NEW: Republican House National Resources Chair Admits Parks Can’t Stay Open Indefinitely As Trump’s Government Shutdown Drags On

Burgum’s Plan for National Parks Remains an Open Question as Funding Dwindles

HELENA, MT – America’s national parks are running on fumes and about to completely run out of operating funds as the Trump administration’s second-longest government shutdown in American history drags on. Interior Secretary Burgum’s half-baked plan to keep parks open with skeleton crews has drained resources, cost the national parks millions in lost revenue, and is allowing illegal activity and vandalism to occur unchecked. Arkansas Republican House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman admitted in a press conference that the administration’s strategy of re-appropriating funds to keep parks open won’t work for much longer. 

During the longest shutdown in history, under Trump’s first term, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that the Interior Department violated longstanding statutes, including the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act and the Antideficiency Act, by redirecting funds to keep our parks open. Interior Secretary Burgum is repeating the same illegal and irresponsible mistake now, dipping into other pots of money to keep our parks afloat. This all comes as other members of Congress are demanding answers from Burgum on his haphazard reductions in force (RIFs) that have decimated the Department and are threatening thousands of communities across the country.

“What is Secretary Doug Burgum’s plan and where is he getting the money to keep our parks open? Does Burgum have a plan to recover the millions in lost park revenue? How will it impact the park service funding cuts called for in Trump’s budget proposal? Will Burgum break the law and will Congress hold him accountable,” asked Jayson O’Neill, spokesperson for Save Our Parks. “The Trump administration and Burgum have proven time and again that they have no qualms about violating the law and skirting Congress’ authority to suit their needs. If the past is prologue, it’s likely Burgum is planning similar illegal moves outside of Congressional approval to the detriment of America’s beloved national parks.” 

The Trump administration and Burgum might not have to go to such extremes if they weren’t so insistent on gutting the entire Interior Department. But even before the government shutdown, this administration made it their mission to traumatize federal workers. 

The continued Trump administration and Burgum’s federal workforce layoffs and RIFs threats are impacting millions of American families in communities across the country who depend on economic benefits from their neighbors and the services they provide in the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, Forest Service, and U.S. Geological Survey. 

The impacts of the latest Trump shutdown, combined with workforce reductions and budget cuts are hollowing out public resources; harming small businesses, gateway communities and states; failing our parks; and undermining the long-term viability of national parks and their draw as global destinations. Burgum’s destructive mismanagement is all part of the Trump administration plan to sell off our public lands to the highest bidder and privatize parks.

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