Interior Secretary Burgum Testimony Highlights the Trump Administration’s Use of America’s Public Lands as a Piggy Bank

Washington, DC – Below is a statement from Chris Hill, CEO of Conservation Lands Foundation.

“Interior Secretary Doug Burgum's testimony this week before the House and Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittees laid bare the administration's troubling vision: treating America's priceless public lands as little more than a piggy bank. Despite his carefully crafted rhetoric about 'responsible resource management,' Burgum's actions as Secretary tell a different story entirely. This administration's relentless pursuit of short-term profits from public lands and waters isn't putting America first—it's putting corporate interests ahead of the American people and future generations.

“While we recognize the need to balance the use of our public lands with responsible energy development and production of domestic critical minerals, we believe in the longstanding, bipartisan tradition that all activities on public lands must respect outdoor recreation access, environmental laws, the rights and traditions of Indigenous people, and the long-term preservation of the land and essential wildlife habitats that are part of the natural and national legacy that belongs to all of us.

“We were gratified to see that lawmakers on both sides of the aisle support keeping America’s public lands in public hands and we commend Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-New Mexico), Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon), and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Washington) for their statements opposing public land sell-offs in the recent budget hearings.

“A well-funded Bureau of Land Management is essential to preserving access, supporting rural economies, and ensuring safe and sustainable recreation on our shared public lands, and Congress must take the lead where the administration has fallen short.

“We’re grateful to America’s public lands champions in Congress, including Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada) and Rep. Dina Titus (D-Nevada), who led letters in the Senate and House of Representatives, respectively, and their 33 colleagues who signed their letters urging appropriators to provide robust funding for the BLM and National Conservation Lands in FY2026.

“In addition we urge lawmakers to scrutinize the administration’s proposal that shortchanges effective stewardship of America’s public lands. The nearly $200 million cut to conservation programs will hamper the Bureau of Land Management’s ability to fulfill its responsibilities under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act. Even more troubling, this administration continues to spend taxpayer dollars on illegal efforts to weaken protections for national monuments. We will hold the Secretary to his statement on not making any monument cuts without local consultation, as Senator Heinrich requested.”