Energy and Commerce and Natural Resources Committee Democratic leaders sent a letter to Secretary of the Department of the Interior (DOI) Ryan Zinke today to request a briefing on DOI’s impending review of national monument designations. The letter comes after President Trump signed an unprecedented executive order today authorizing DOI to review the status of previously designated national monuments.
The letter requesting a briefing was signed by Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Natural Resources Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ), E&C’s Energy Ranking Member Bobby Rush, E&C’s Oversight and Investigations Ranking Member Diana DeGette (D-CO), E&C’s Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection Ranking Member Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), E&C’s Environment Ranking Member Paul Tonko (D-NY), Natural Resources Federal Lands Ranking Member Colleen Hanabusa (D-HI), Natural Resources Water, Power and Oceans Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-CA), Natural Resources Energy and Mineral Resources Ranking Member Alan Lowenthal (D-CA) and Natural Resources Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs Ranking Member Norma Torres (D-CA).
“Both Democratic and Republican Presidents have designated a total of 157 national monuments of unique significance to the culture, environment, and history of our nation," the Democrats wrote in their letter to Secretary Zinke. “We are gravely concerned that the misguided actions contemplated by the Trump Administration would cause irrevocable harm to these national treasures and erase the progress, protections, and wisdom that served as the underpinnings for these decisions."
To help better understand the intentions behind President Trump’s executive order, the Democrats asked DOI for responses to the following questions and request for information:
1. The Department of the Interior (DOI) “protects and manages the Nation’s natural resources and cultural heritage; provides scientific and other information about those resources; and honors its trust responsibilities or special commitments to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and affiliated island communities." How does this exercise help the agency fulfill this obligation?
2. How does this exercise ensure that areas currently designated as monuments will be preserved and protected?
3. The March 16, 2017 budget blueprint calls for a $1.5 billion dollar, or 12 percent reduction, to DOI’s fiscal year 2018 budget. How would these proposed cuts impact the ability of DOI to manage these monuments?
4. National monuments are designated with extensive public review and participation. Was the public involved in determining that this review was necessary? If this review goes forward, how will public input be used to inform any recommendations?
5. Please immediately provide all reports of your assessments as they become available.
