The Trump administration has proposed a 30 percent cut to the park service’s operations and staffing budgets.
In addition, the administration’s budget calls for transferring some park service sites to the states — a provision that is sparking particular ire from the GOP.
Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) told The Hill the administration’s proposed cuts were “concerning.”
“We want to have some discussions on it and exactly how it’s going to affect the park service and exactly what units the states are going to take over management. … We need more information,” added Simpson, who chairs the House appropriations subcommittee in charge of funding the NPS.
Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), who described himself as a “strong supporter” of national parks, said he wants “to make sure they’re adequately funded.”
He said the congressional appropriations process will “sort all this out.”
During a recent Senate hearing, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) also expressed concerns about the administration’s “skinny budget” where some of the NPS cuts and the plan to move some parks to the states were floated.
“It’s hard to square it with the claims that DOI [the Interior Department] is focused on fostering the American economy,” Murkowski said.
During the same Senate hearing, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said he doesn’t want to get rid of park rangers or firefighters.
At the same time, Burgum said he does think the NPS budget can be reduced by eliminating office workers, including those working in human relations and information technology.
Read more at TheHill.com.
