[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},"mediaId",6199007,"mediaKeyId","3841632-5e870116a7e0c8bafe5e2326c93e051e","parentId",3841632,"title","Interior secretary backs Trump—administration—budget; senators warn cuts would cripple agencies and tribal programs","audioSeconds",725,"startMs",909000,"endMs",1634000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3841632-5e870116a7e0c8bafe5e2326c93e051e&start=909&end=1634","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3841632-5e870116a7e0c8bafe5e2326c93e051e/thumbnail_909000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6199007/Interior-secretary-backs-Trumpadministrationbudget-senators-warn-cuts-would-cripple-agencies-and-tribal-programs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6199007-c79578e6dddc9a6e159067f835a87ba2/orig.mp4?Expires=1775089070&Signature=LMWCL4tmQi3eP2Xuvrs3B9nyoY-cJJtWbRvpmOOHKCLp68AQ4kj5s5FmAsH~0grBGMhg7OuQGxBCkiPpDmko6wjAPnkjXuSvHBJ87ETok~-iFJ4Xs4glom92iHDOmKaTxHqu0mH~tGDJVfOok81VPkuvvbzZJIxxBBKbKhRluC7uCUaaM4WKojFYagu43KZ6JOgKvbGMqQa~1glc-Wy3J~YIrebz~a58gzFVoQEArFItApxqBlrVnHOu5XRZ5LRUmEgFzBCNvNEN7An3Nj3Nfl8u0JVJ4FKPtGSLamtvGf1aDuJrgOoMFZk1yL1C2pQXxmSZmpKA8LSSWfTPPPG3jg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","U.S. Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources","date","2025-06-11T00:00:00Z","article","Secretary Doug Burgum told the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on the opening day of the FY2026 hearing that President Trump\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000s budget requests $14.4 billion in current authority for the Department of the Interior and aims to prioritize energy production, streamlined operations and reduced overhead.

The committee's ranking member, Sen. Martin Heinrich, said the cuts proposed in the request would leave the department unable to meet its mission, citing reductions he said were about 30% across some programs and near-40% for the U.S. Geological Survey. \"This proposal would kneecap the scientific research we need to understand how our natural world is changing in the face of a changing climate,\" Heinrich said during his opening statement, warning the budget would \"do irreparable harm to Indian country\" by cutting the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Indian Education by more than 30%.

Burgum framed the request as part of a broader administration effort to increase revenue from public lands and mineral development, accelerate energy production, and reform duplicative programs. \"President Trump's 2026 budget requests 14,400,000,000.0 in current authority for the department, providing significant savings to the American people,\" Burgum said, adding the administration seeks to expand oil production and mining for critical and rare earth minerals and to streamline permitting.

Senators pressed for details. Heinrich and others raised specific program impacts senators associated with the proposed cuts: a 35% reduction to the Bureau of Land Management, proposed elimination of the WaterSMART program, and near-40% reductions to USGS programs that, as Heinrich noted, could include curtailing wildlife disease labs and migratory bird research. Heinrich also said park operations could be reduced by 30% and that, under his reading, many smaller park units could face transfer or disposal to meet the budget target.

Burgum and senators repeatedly said additional, detailed budgeting information and project lists will be necessary for oversight. Burgum said the department is working on data systems and emphasized that some revenue from land disposals and leases can be cycled back into recreation and deferred maintenance projects. He cited examples in Southern Nevada where small land dispositions funded visitor centers and other local projects.

No formal actions or votes were taken at the hearing. Senators asked for additional material for the record and for more detailed breakdowns of staffing and program-level impacts. Chairman and ranking member exchanges indicated follow-up questions will be due to the committee for responses from the department.

Why it matters: The Interior Department manages hundreds of millions of acres of public lands, river and reclamation projects, and programs with direct effects on tribes, agriculture, recreation and scientific monitoring. Changes to core funding levels or to how land and mineral assets are used could affect services, revenue flows and long-term stewardship of federal lands.

What comes next: Senators requested supplemental information and timelines; committee staff will accept questions for the record. Burgum and committee members said they will continue to exchange data on visitation, staffing and specific program impacts to inform the appropriations process.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Full Committee Hearing to Examine the President's Budget Request for the U.S. Department of the Interior for Fiscal Year 2026","oneSentenceSummary","Secretary Doug Burgum told the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee that President Trump's FY2026 budget requests $14.4 billion for the Department of the Interior, a plan the administration says will increase energy production and reduce overhead.","taxTitle","Energy and Natural Resources: Senate Committee, Standing Committees - House & Senate, Congressional Hearings Compilation, Legislative, Federal","taxId",1991,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6198987,"Burgum pushes energy dominance, critical minerals and predictable lease sales; senators press for permitting fixes and reclamation staff support",3986,1745000,5731000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3841632-5e870116a7e0c8bafe5e2326c93e051e&start=1745&end=5731","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3841632-5e870116a7e0c8bafe5e2326c93e051e/thumbnail_1745000.jpg","/articles/6198987/Burgum-pushes-energy-dominance-critical-minerals-and-predictable-lease-sales-senators-press-for-permitting-fixes-and-reclamation-staff-support","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6198987-9827b911b7c2a003239d5337c52bb95a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775089070&Signature=i-SnkQONbNaTnEbLt9rm6Hw7OH5Ubi1qccURuu97~k31Bu6Evp5sLXa6o3mMR~tvLQDhp86kZSgub4f5S6kn9fuxzq8N6y8Ov0mc1GyhPzKohdJqyIzx60~1sN8d1BtlyNGik3F6oirmD2cheN8agvkDMyofnCgQOOR0hCN3T0WwV87qgSVlvZ-w9GU3BSLWYhfnX1k7qrM9xgV2nMKKDVaLXKYqrs6BTpnm34jWQEc2zUfxU85aStKILbK9ApGwjThiYaJc3sctJHIeeY7CN-36t4tntjYoWCT95taCcJ88hijGpTHpJOp0F7HLPXxA~8l53wig4SxM8oOf1RoTsQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Secretary Doug Burgum used his opening statement before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to position the administration's FY2026 request as part of a broader agenda to strengthen domestic energy production and critical mineral supply chains.

\"The 2026 budget for the department features strategic investments to further President Trump's commitment to energy dominance,\" Burgum said, citing efforts to increase oil production in the Gulf of America and to remove what he called \"layers of red tape\" that have restricted resource development. He pledged a return to regular, predictable offshore and onshore lease sales and said the department has taken steps to approve mining and energy projects, citing approvals in Montana for coal mines and steps to permit new mining operations.

On permitting, Burgum said the department is building a transparency dashboard that will show permit status by department, state and permit type and asserted the department can drastically shorten environmental review timeframes through concentrated effort on pilot projects; he said pilots have produced environmental assessments in under 14 days and environmental impact statements in under 28 days. Burgum described reforms as process improvements to put \"more minutes on mission\" and reduce queuing delays.

Sen. John Barrasso and Sen. Bill Cassidy emphasized regular, predictable lease sale schedules, particularly for Gulf of Mexico offshore leasing, and Cassidy asked whether a Gulf lease sale could be held by December. Burgum said the department is targeting a Gulf lease sale by December and said predictability helps attract capital.

Sen. Alex Padilla and others raised concerns about recent DOJ Office of Legal Counsel guidance on monument authority and asked whether the administration would revisit recently designated monuments; Burgum said the department will look at recently created monuments and emphasized outreach and ground-truthing with tribes and local communities before making decisions.

Separately, Sen. Alex Padilla and others raised staffing concerns at the Bureau of Reclamation's regional office in Sacramento; Burgum said he would have his team follow up on the reported reductions and whether some positions were reorganized into centralized offices.

Why it matters: Predictable lease sales, streamlined permitting and domestic critical mineral processing are central to energy and industrial policy. Changes in permitting timelines or staffing at agencies such as the Bureau of Reclamation affect infrastructure projects and regional water and power systems.

What comes next: Senators requested a permitting-transparency dashboard, a timeline for lease sales, and follow-up information on regional staffing and Reclamation capacity; Burgum committed to follow up on specific staffing questions and to work with senators on permitting reforms and mining approvals.","Secretary Burgum told the committee the administration seeks to increase onshore and offshore energy production and to reestablish mining and processing for critical and rare earth minerals. Senators asked about permitting times, transparency dashboards, and staffing at the Bureau of Reclamation and regional offices.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6198992,"Senators blast proposed deep cuts to National Park Service; secretary says data gaps complicate oversight",373,3819000,4192000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3841632-5e870116a7e0c8bafe5e2326c93e051e&start=3819&end=4192","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3841632-5e870116a7e0c8bafe5e2326c93e051e/thumbnail_3819000.jpg","/articles/6198992/Senators-blast-proposed-deep-cuts-to-National-Park-Service-secretary-says-data-gaps-complicate-oversight","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6198992-dd29f01f2855ae931a8761a340e78726/orig.mp4?Expires=1775089070&Signature=Dct9Ypm0pjIslIdcL4V9PHvOoDqt6JirSVIbR8t5CDqLTuXjyyMqqzrzprlF5a9vtEjcJ-Fjan~xA1ukr1k2fdnUEyQnLzr6cQ~0YZgVsZQ~Uq0BSy3KPd9-7PmziycjpPfmxg57YrHJkq3MKAc70o8MBM3ILfawQnMiDOAyX5VYboxyyrrDfLfbFYFhPn6YXnEPq-vw3z5ebSMClk~SjzDD2f0qAMjEbDWNTI224yDgu-A6uXY2Ow88xvhhDxJ6Engi4LzCObK~9YEnecLY3ARSGZXQF6j5Sgb7D8I6bf~Z7w~jk3VbUItzrj293X24NKK~b8bwmWmqMb5wZiLcPg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senators pressed Secretary Doug Burgum on the proposed reductions to the National Park Service and the consequences for staffing, visitor services and deferred maintenance.

Sen. Angus King criticized the administration's budget submission as inadequate for oversight, saying a 37% cut to the NPS \"is devastating to the National Park Service\" and noting a widening gap between visitation and staffing over recent years. King said the proposed $1.2 billion reduction to NPS would do \"huge damage\" to a widely popular federal agency.

Sen. Jon Wyden and others raised examples of park operations under strain, including closures of tours, canceled programs and difficulty filling seasonal staff. Wyden asked Burgum to commit to ensuring park sites in Oregon and elsewhere have the staff and resources needed for the summer season. Burgum said the department had filled thousands of seasonal positions and that some roles remained open, encouraging applicants and promising continued work with senators to address local needs.

Burgum told the committee the department has spent the spring rebuilding HR data to identify how many of the employees counted in aggregate staffing numbers actually work in park units rather than in headquarters; he said that reconciliation of those data will help inform any decisions about allocations between headquarters overhead and on-the-ground staff.

The hearing also returned to the Land and Water Conservation Fund and the Great American Outdoors Act. Senators urged the department to deliver a prioritized project list and to follow statutes governing LWCF funding for acquisitions and recreation projects. Burgum said the department will follow the law and work with Congress on priorities.

Why it matters: The National Park Service oversees hundreds of park units visited by millions of people annually; reductions to staffing or operations could affect visitor services, local tourism economies and maintenance of cultural and natural resources.

What comes next: Senators asked for the department to provide data showing where staffing is located, LWCF priority project lists and follow-up plans for seasonal hiring and park operations.","Senators including Angus King and Jon Wyden criticized a proposed 30\u000037% reduction to National Park Service funding and urged the department for more data on visitation and staffing. Secretary Burgum said the department is rebuilding HR and visitor data and argued efficiencies could shift resources from overhead into parks.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6198997,"Interior says underused federal land could help Western housing shortages; senators demand transparency and local input",5230,2017000,7247000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3841632-5e870116a7e0c8bafe5e2326c93e051e&start=2017&end=7247","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3841632-5e870116a7e0c8bafe5e2326c93e051e/thumbnail_2017000.jpg","/articles/6198997/Interior-says-underused-federal-land-could-help-Western-housing-shortages-senators-demand-transparency-and-local-input","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6198997-c04acbe283aa14e8dd09f561cf71f86d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775089070&Signature=SJZFAAkzrX2sxtu~5WRo1lYSVdSURncLfBjPk1HOD7NoOTz~Mn8nRiS9HpKQu~ZX5zzVU4e~NLvM8lSFFztvwZ9Acpf7qNcfSfzgHyBMzgt0XWSBUKgFgz0K8pc066Cpi5G5dHlFtQBMo~HLMEwydxh3GR~eca-hBIi7eComeAVTEI74ilqzcJyzQpl1RXtN3E1NLDRxxVI1sSflEGUoVPdgB0hMmdMRoDUq7GKVXsgQBZDiaq2K1DINuhPNhaimLbm2I8gW0199vzq5y~3gg~DIUZxiAss6dbyFHuUtbs5j44M0rzq-1mrq7F6Y6f3JaZp~maqGh272XnzpiKYY-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Secretary Doug Burgum told the Senate committee the department believes small fractions of federal holdings near population centers could be repurposed to support housing and infrastructure, and he cited the Southern Nevada framework as a workable model.

\"We did a study of all these federal lands, and there's 250,000 acres, that's within, just a few miles of cities of 5,000 or more,\" Burgum said, arguing that targeted disposals or swaps could free sites adjacent to roads and utilities for infill housing and produce revenue for deferred maintenance and recreation projects.

Burgum pointed to the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act (SNPLMA) and the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act (FLPFA) as existing mechanisms the department can use. He said public meetings and transparent processes would be used before any land is offered for sale and explicitly reassured senators that national parks would not be candidates for sale.

Ranking Member Sen. Martin Heinrich asked when the public would see lists of lands being considered; Burgum said the effort remains at an early, proposed stage and stressed the need for better data to make decisions. He told the committee that in some prior Southern Nevada disposals small parcels yielded significant proceeds: he cited a 41-acre sale that produced $16.75 million and an 80-acre parcel pending for affordable housing.

Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto said existing models like SNPLMA require robust stakeholder engagement and objected to proposals she said surfaced in other venues that would authorize broad land sales without local input. She told the committee she expects the same level of engagement on any decisions affecting Nevada.

Why it matters: Western states hold large shares of federal land and local leaders have for years sought tools to remove particular tracts from federal ownership to support housing and infrastructure near cities. The committee debate combined policy tools (statutory land-sale mechanisms) with concerns about process, local planning capacity, and ensuring proceeds support public-land priorities.

What comes next: Burgum said the department would use public meetings and established law (SNPLMA, FLPFA) for potential disposals; senators asked for named parcel lists and additional briefings. The chairman said committee language would be released and any sale would involve a public process.","Secretary Burgum told senators the department has identified tracts near cities that may be candidates for disposal or swaps to support housing; he cited the Southern Nevada model and FLPFA as examples. Senators, especially from Nevada and other Western states, pressed for public notice, lists of parcels and local engagement before any sales.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6199002,"Interior proposes unified U.S. Wildland Fire Service to streamline federal wildfire response",6348,1831000,8179000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3841632-5e870116a7e0c8bafe5e2326c93e051e&start=1831&end=8179","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3841632-5e870116a7e0c8bafe5e2326c93e051e/thumbnail_1831000.jpg","/articles/6199002/Interior-proposes-unified-US-Wildland-Fire-Service-to-streamline-federal-wildfire-response","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6199002-d63f4fef05dbc7820a203b85f72c3652/orig.mp4?Expires=1775089070&Signature=BtH-dUOVrobuL5GuLVgnHFO~KRnumYRfiuYsrq6l9K3Q2O0XRm1sWGUiSO30kjFQYkbxzplKbTEH1PR9fPFdVdRHavgDD6~P1GtZsor2IJcwBUFBcpOR5xgn1W4pUpa3EPeeJLK2pU4ZgjjMlWxnIxo~TQ5hXyw5I43iHB5LQT97yZdi-yvG6tlNQrEDoEMbEly-RfwgzQPf3vmb61xar0IYLAqYyZglSjuac391CVSfF3hIUSGhXtZnmTDlzpDdWhJSDw3ozZF9OtSJvBtrI-vHc6pKTfIR5AyQZtxjfwbJF4Da-QbOtlwoxNeJw-vSFwYiGKQ1sB5OW0IVlQmq7Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Secretary Doug Burgum told the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee that the FY2026 proposal consolidates federal wildland fire responsibilities into a single U.S. Wildland Fire Service within the Department of the Interior, a change the administration says will improve operational coordination and response.

\"The budget reforms federal wildland fire management to create operational efficiencies by unifying federal wildland fire responsibilities into a new centralized, U.S. Wildland fire service, within the Department of Interior,\" Burgum said. He told senators the consolidation would improve coordination among multiple agencies, standardize pay and benefits for wildland firefighters, and create a single set of technology and aviation assets to deploy where needed.

Burgum cited examples he said the department can build on: the Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, and cooperative models in Alaska that co-locate resources and align state and federal response. He argued that faster deployment and better technological tools would reduce the total cost and the human risk of late responses.

Several senators praised the idea during the hearing. \"I think it's a very sensible proposal,\" Sen. Angus King said in a brief exchange, and Sen. John Hoeven and Sen. Steve Daines highlighted the need for improved coordination and technology. Senator Joe Justice and others described the recommendation as the kind of executive, operational reform they expected from a former governor.

Committee members asked follow-up questions about implementation: whether personnel would be reassigned, how pay and retirement would be unified, and how the new structure would interface with the U.S. Forest Service, states and tribal partners. Burgum said the proposal would not force immediate relocation of staff; rather, it would create unified leadership and planning across currently separate federal firefighting organizations.

Why it matters: Federal wildland fire responsibilities are currently split across multiple Interior agencies and the U.S. Forest Service, making cross-jurisdictional response and asset allocation more complex during increasingly intense fire seasons. Senators from both parties signaled appetite for coordination improvements but asked for detail on near-term implementation, labor questions and interoperability with state and tribal fire organizations.

What comes next: Burgum said the department and the White House would continue planning and legislative partners on Capitol Hill could introduce measures to adjust authorities; senators asked the department for follow-up briefings and operational plans.","Secretary Burgum told senators the budget reforms federal wildland fire management by creating a centralized U.S. Wildland Fire Service within the Department of the Interior to unify suppression, mitigation and coordination across multiple federal agencies.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Interior secretary backs Trump—administration—budget; senators warn cuts would cripple agencies and tribal programs

Burgum pushes energy dominance, critical minerals and predictable lease sales; senators press for permitting fixes and reclamation staff support

Senators blast proposed deep cuts to National Park Service; secretary says data gaps complicate oversight

Interior says underused federal land could help Western housing shortages; senators demand transparency and local input

Interior proposes unified U.S. Wildland Fire Service to streamline federal wildfire response