Sen. Mike Lee reversed course on part of a controversial national parks amendment, but his proposals to nix new oversight on federal land agencies remain.
Mike Lee reverses course on controversial national park proposal, but conservation groups say concerns still remain The senator introduced an amendment a federal spending bill that may prevent Congress from increasing oversight on national park service staffing and spending.
After national park advocacy groups raised alarms last week, Utah Sen. Mike Lee backtracked on a proposal that could have affected some of the nation’s most popular public lands.that no longer proposes to remove the section that clarifies the federal government’s responsibility to maintain national parks, but he still proposes striking some provisions that would create additional safeguards and oversight on national parks and public land agencies, according to conservation groups.“Senator Mike Lee is not trying to sell Park Service lands or ‘end the Park Service as we know it,’” Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska,Senator Mike Lee is not trying to sell Park Service lands or ‘end the Park Service as we know it.’ Those who are claiming that should know better and need to knock it off. He filed an amendment to strike a well-meaning provision of the Interior Appropriations bill that would have…The Interior Department had flagged concerns with the section and asked for it to be removed, Lee added in his statement. The provision could permanently freeze park service boundaries and block future land exchanges that have historically been “conservation-driven” and “partner-supported,” according to a letter from the Interior Department that Lee’s office shared with The Tribune.The Interior Department does not have authority to sell national parks, and Lee’s original amendment would not have created such an authority, said Jordan Roberts, a spokesperson for Lee.“There is an urgent need to streamline staffing and transfer certain properties to State-level management to ensure the long-term health and sustainment of the National Park system,” the request said. This is not the first time Lee has been criticized for his actions on public lands: The Utah senator previously attempted to sell off non-park service public lands earlier this year. That effort also raised opposition among recreation, environmental and hunting and angling groups, and itstill aims to strike three other sections of the Interior Department spending bill proposed by Maine Sen. Susan Collins earlier this year that increase congressional oversight of the Interior Department, Kate Groetzinger, communications manager for the Center for Western Priorities, told The Tribune. “ has been so brazen in their reorganizations and their layoffs. … And a lot of these rules weren’t needed until we had an Interior secretary who was bent on destroying the agency,” Groetzinger said. “So now Congress is trying to assert a bit of control over the agency’s actions, and Mike Lee is trying to abdicate that responsibility and give more power to the agency.” Demonstrators line the street near the south entrance of Zion National Park Saturday, March 1, 2025, protesting the firing of National Park Service employees.from the bill requires federal agencies to notify the appropriations committee if it plans to reorganize or change its workforce by 10 staff members or 10% of employees. The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks urged inclusion of this provision in a statement on Friday. “This provision would ensure that indiscriminate firings not take place without congressional oversight,” the statement said. Layoffs have “decimated” public land agencies over the past year, Groetzinger said. “Striking this section would essentially make it easier for Doug Burgum to fire more park rangers, which is really our main concern,” she added.Lee’s office did not immediately provide comment on why he proposes to strike those provisions from the bill.Utah leaders presented federal officials with a ‘wish list’ of national park changes. Here’s what was on it. Trump admin announces new ‘America-first’ national park passes. Here’s how much more some visitors will pay at Zion and Bryce.8 basic steps for building a budget
Mike Lee Park Service Public Lands
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Mike Lee pulls amendment that caused stir over national parks managementKevin Lind is a staff writer for the Deseret News on the Ideas and Culture team, covering the Intermountain West.
Read more »
Mamdani to be sworn by his political idol, Sen. Bernie Sanders, and by AG JamesZohran Mamdani will be sworn in by both Senator Bernie Sanders, his political idol, and New York State Attorney General Letitia James.
Read more »
Sen. Chuck Schumer will try to force the DOJ into full release of Epstein filesSenate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is introducing a resolution to force the full release of the Epstein files.
Read more »
Mike Lee wants to change how the Senate filibuster worksUtah Sen. Mike Lee is pushing to change how the Senate filibuster works, lamenting that the procedural tool has gotten in the way of Republicans passing their agenda despite controlling both chambers of Congress and the White House.
Read more »
Birmingham looks to avoid repeat of another city’s $14 billion controversySen. Katie Britt and Alabama PSC President Cynthia Lee Almond have weighed in on the issue.
Read more »
Sen. Blumenthal seeks details on White House ballroom from new architect, donor dinner attendeesDemocratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal is pushing for more information on a White House ballroom project championed by President Trump, sending letters to the project's architect and some fundraising dinner attendees.
Read more »