Senate Indian Affairs chair warns proposed Interior cuts would hit parks and tribal programs hard

The chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs opened a hearing on the Department of the Interiors fiscal 2026 budget request, praising the departments nominees while sharply questioning proposed cuts to parks and tribal programs.

"We see a skinny budget that proposes to cut $1,200,000,000, or about 35%, from the Park Service," the chair said, warning those reductions would be difficult to reconcile with the departments stated role in fostering the American economy. He said national parks in the subcommittees states generate an estimated $7,400,000,000 in annual economic output and drew attention to tourism figures, saying Alaska alone had about 1,650,000 visitors in its season.

The chair said proposed reductions to the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Indian Education would be particularly damaging. "Cutting nearly $1,000,000,000 from Indian Affairs would hurt the federal government's ability to meet its trust responsibility to Native people," he said, also flagging a proposed $107,000,000 reduction in BIA law enforcement funding and longstanding backlogs in probate, public safety and missing and murdered Indigenous people cases.

The chair questioned a proposal mentioned in the budget material to shift some park management responsibilities to states, saying he wants a thorough justification before any such change is included in the committee's consideration. He described concern that wholesale transfers could harm park stewardship and local communities that rely on park-related visitation and services.

He also emphasized staffing and scientific capacity across Interior programs. Citing the role of the U.S. Geological Survey in mapping permafrost, identifying polar bear dens and tracking caribou migration, the chair said cuts to USGS and other program budgets could weaken the information managers and industry rely on. He warned that reorganizations and staff reductions would impede on-the-ground expertise essential for park operations and resource management.

The chair noted that some key departmental officials were not present to answer detailed questions about reorganization and budget implementation, singling out the Acting Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management and Budget, Mr. Hasson. He stressed ultimately that the Secretary is accountable for department outcomes.

The opening concluded with the chair expressing support for the nominee on the panel and an intent to press for more detailed answers in questioning.

The hearing proceeded to the next item.