Jonathon Berman, jonathon.berman@sierraclub.org
Washington, DC -- Late yesterday, it was announced that one of acting Interior Secretary David Bernhardt’s first actions since taking over for disgraced former Secretary Ryan Zinke will be to tap into the funds raised from entrance, camping, parking, and other fees to fund clean up efforts in national parks. These fees are used for future projects at parks, and by tapping into them may violate federal appropriations laws.
At the same time as America’s national parks are facing significant staffing shortfalls due to Donald Trump’s Shutdown and while most park rangers are furloughed or working without pay, Trump’s Washington, DC hotel, which is owned by the General Services Administration, has continued to be constantly staffed by National Park Service Rangers.
In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune released the following statement:
“Donald Trump is literally selling out the future of America’s parks to clean up the trash and waste he’s created with his shutdown. But no Trump action, regardless of how destructive it may be, would be complete without him helping himself, which explains why facilities in his own hotel have remained staffed with park rangers while sites that every American could enjoy are being trashed. Donald Trump needs to get out of America’s way and reopen the government rather than breaking the law to clean up his own mess.”
###
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.