Gillibrand, Colleagues Launch Inquiry Into Corrupt Use Of National Parks Fees For Trump’s Vanity Projects

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), along with 10 of her Senate colleagues, launched an inquiry into the Trump administration redirecting tens of millions of dollars from fees paid to the National Park Service (NPS) to fund President Donald Trump’s vanity projects in Washington, D.C. Reporting indicates that the Trump administration has reallocated at least $67 million worth of national park entrance fees to fund projects such as repairing ornamental fountains, covering statues in gold leaf, and renovating the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, often with no-bid contracts. “The American people deserve transparency and a complete explanation of where their money is being directed,” the senators wrote in a letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. “This loss in revenue for our parks could have devastating effects on the future viability of these public natural treasures. […] Deteriorating roads, water systems, and other park facilities pose safety concerns for visitors and over time degrade the overall park experience. The redistribution of revenues to D.C. projects could mean multiple millions of dollars lost for individual national parks around the country.” Under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act , at least 80% of the recreation fees paid must be used at the national park where the fees were collected to upkeep or maintain the parks, and 20% is to be available to the agency that collected it on an agency-wide basis. The allocation of this amount of park fee revenue funding to support projects for the president’s personal enjoyment is unprecedented. “The lack of transparency around awards for these beautification projects, as well as the loss in revenue meant for the maintenance and betterment of our national parks threatens the public’s trust and the long-term integrity of our nation’s most beloved public lands. Accordingly, as we investigate the potential waste, fraud, and abuse by the administration, we request a detailed explanation for where the revenue from digital passes is being directed and what percentage of this revenue is supporting the D.C. projects rather than supporting the maintenance of our public parks,” the senators concluded. Gillibrand continues to forcefully push back on President Trump’s prioritization of self-promotion and vanity projects over the interests of working Americans. In April, she introduced the Halting Unilateral Money and Building Labeling by Egotistical (HUMBLE) Presidents Act , which would bar the use of a sitting U.S. president’s name, image, likeness, or signature to decorate or designate federal property, assets, or currency. In addition to Senator Gillibrand, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-CA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Angus King (I-ME), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Edward Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR). The full text of the letter is available here . ###