Jeff Merkley Questions Doug Burgum on Interior Department Transparency and Park Funding

Proposed Cuts to National Park System

• 💡 Secretary Burgum acknowledged a proposal to cut $900 million from the National Park System by offloading some of the 370 non-crown jewel sites.
• ⚠️ He stated this is a proposal for the 2026 budget and plans will be developed on a case-by-case, state-by-state basis.
• 📜 Burgum confirmed that changing the law would be necessary to transfer these sites, addressing concerns about executive action.

Transparency and Information Access

• ❓ Senator Merkley expressed frustration over repeated requests for information from the Interior Department since January 23rd, particularly regarding funding status.
• 🤝 Burgum committed to providing answers to specific outstanding requests and offered to take calls when information is not readily available.
• 🐘 An example was given of international partners fighting poaching being unable to access legally obligated funds since January 20th, with a commitment to provide an answer.

Great American Outdoors Act and Land and Water Conservation Fund

• ⏳ The law requires a list of projects by April 29th, which has not yet been provided, but a commitment was made to deliver it within the next couple of weeks.
• ⚖️ Burgum assured that the department will follow the law related to the Great American Outdoors Act and that funding will be allocated based on merit and legal compliance.
• 🎯 Concerns were raised that the funding could become a political tool, with a request for assurance that it will not be used to reward specific districts discriminatorily.

Funding Levels and Prior Administrations

• 📊 Burgum stated that grants increased by over 100% in the prior administration, and a 50% cut would return spending levels to those seen at the beginning of the Biden administration.
• 📉 He argued that agencies operated with significantly lower spending levels for decades compared to recent years.