Budget Hearing – Department of the Interior

House Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies

2025-05-20

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Summary

The hearing focused on the Department of Interior's fiscal year 2026 budget priorities and the administration's vision for the department. Secretary Doug Burgum presented the budget blueprint and outlined goals, while Chairman Michael K. Simpson and Ranking Member Chellie Pingree, along with other committee members, raised questions and concerns regarding proposed cuts, departmental operations, and critical issues facing public lands and tribal communities.

Budget Priorities and Reductions

Secretary Burgum presented President Trump's FY2026 budget blueprint, requesting $11.9 billion for the Department of Interior, with $10.6 billion under the subcommittee's jurisdiction, aiming for significant savings. Chairman Simpson acknowledged potential disagreements on proposed cuts, especially concerning Indian programs and national parks, but stated the committee's commitment to upholding tribal responsibilities.[ 00:37:02-00:37:11 ]

Ranking Member Pingree expressed strong concern that the proposed 30% cut would destabilize the department, lead to mass firings, and hinder its mission, particularly affecting the U.S. Geological Survey and Bureau of Indian Affairs. The Secretary clarified that if Congress appropriates higher levels than the President's request, his department would spend the amounts as law dictates. There was a strong bipartisan concern regarding funding for Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) schools and construction, with members highlighting the dire conditions and the need to fulfill treaty obligations.[ 00:57:21-00:57:27 ] [ 01:05:53-01:06:55 ] Members also raised concerns about delays in obligating appropriated funds for programs like the Historic Preservation Fund, with some states experiencing staff layoffs due to the holdup. Secretary Burgum assured the committee he is actively pushing OMB to release these funds, acknowledging the importance of state historical preservation offices.[ 01:08:30 ]

Energy Policy and Production

Secretary Burgum emphasized President Trump's commitment to energy dominance, focusing on increasing affordable, reliable energy production on federal lands and offshore. He cited measures like increased production in the Gulf of Mexico and removing red tape for coal production as examples of this strategy. The Secretary argued for clean American coal's benefits, including reliable electricity, national security, and critical mineral sourcing, linking it to the "artificial intelligence arms race" with China. A significant debate arose regarding renewable energy, with Ranking Member Pingree expressing concern that the administration's budget eliminates renewable energy funding and focuses solely on fossil fuels, despite the economic and climate benefits of renewables.[ 02:23:15-02:24:03 ]

Secretary Burgum countered by highlighting the intermittency of renewables without sufficient battery technology, emphasizing the need for baseload power from fossil fuels and nuclear energy for grid reliability and national security, especially in the context of AI. He also cited Germany's experience with high electricity costs and reduced reliability after heavily investing in renewables and shutting down baseload plants. The Secretary championed carbon capture technology, stating its proven success in North Dakota, and argued that subsidies for wind power are unsustainable.[ 02:35:05-02:35:09 ]

Tribal Issues and Trust Responsibilities

The committee members, including Chairman Simpson, Ranking Member Pingree, and Chairman Cole, stressed the critical importance of fulfilling trust and treaty obligations to Native American tribes, particularly regarding education and law enforcement.[ 00:37:05-00:37:17 ]

[ 00:57:12-00:57:13 ] [ 01:05:53-01:06:55 ] Secretary Burgum acknowledged the challenges in BIE schools, noting issues beyond just funding, and expressed commitment to understanding and improving the system.[ 00:57:38-00:59:33 ] Law enforcement on tribal lands was a "grave concern" for the Secretary, who highlighted the vulnerability of these areas to organized crime, human trafficking, and drug trafficking, citing the 6,000 unsolved cases of missing and murdered indigenous persons. He supported increased resources, local retention facilities, and better federal coordination to address these issues, noting that 41% of the southwestern border is Interior land. The Secretary also revealed that there are 48,000 unresolved probate cases in Indian Country, causing homes to be boarded up and mineral rights payments to be held in suspension, representing a potential half-billion-dollar problem.

Wildland Fire Management

The Secretary proposed reforming federal wildland fire management by consolidating responsibilities into a new, centralized Federal Wildland Fire Service within the Department of Interior. This aims to streamline suppression, risk mitigation, and coordination with state, local, and tribal partners, building on successful efforts like the joint operations in Boise.[ 01:14:07-01:14:10 ]

[ 01:15:36-01:15:43 ] He recounted a personal experience in North Dakota where a large wildfire caused two deaths, and federal air support was delayed for days, illustrating the need for better coordination and faster decision-making. Committee members, including Josh Harder, expressed bipartisan support for wildland firefighters, advocating for casualty assistance programs and streamlined reimbursement for local fire departments.[ 01:24:20-01:24:56 ] Secretary Burgum largely agreed with these concepts, emphasizing the moral responsibility to support first responders and the need for competitive benefits to aid recruitment.

Departmental Efficiency and Personnel

Secretary Burgum highlighted efforts to streamline core business operations to improve efficiencies and lower costs, aiming to put more people on the front lines and reduce bureaucratic layers. He cited his experience as North Dakota's governor where he successfully cut $1.7 billion from the state budget by eliminating unnecessary processes and leveraging technology. Members raised concerns about staffing shortages, particularly for specialized roles like certified appraisers and mineral examiners, which create significant delays in land management processes.[ 01:18:28-01:19:11 ]

The Secretary agreed on the need to address these bottlenecks and expressed a desire for more field staff and less Washington D.C.-based personnel. The issue of delays caused by internal administrative rules, such as mandatory appraisals for fixed-price land transfers, was also discussed as an area for reform. The Secretary stated a commitment to filling critical positions, such as water operators at national parks, even after staff departures, and addressing hiring freezes.[ 02:18:58 ] He also discussed optimizing federal office space and renegotiating leases to free up funds for core missions, citing examples of underutilized federal buildings.

Public Lands and Conservation

The Department of Interior manages vast federal lands and resources, which Secretary Burgum views as national assets to be responsibly managed for economic growth and revenue generation, while protecting natural resources. He emphasized the importance of land exchanges, citing a successful Utah exchange that consolidated checkerboard lands for both state and federal benefits. The Secretary committed to working with states like Utah and Nevada, which have large percentages of federal land, to ensure management benefits local populations and to strengthen partnerships with local elected officials. He clarified that there is "zero intention" to transfer any of the 64 major National Parks to states but suggested evaluating the transfer of some of the 400-plus "other locations" (like historic sites) to state governments or private foundations for better management and reduced federal overhead.[ 02:10:00-02:10:17 ]

Continued investment in addressing the $23 billion deferred maintenance backlog in parks and public lands was affirmed as a priority, with the Secretary advocating for earlier intervention to save costs. He also committed to increasing hunting and fishing access on federal lands to support state and local economies. The problem of unconstrained wild horses and burros causing ecological damage was acknowledged, and a commitment was made to find long-term solutions.[ 01:58:37-01:58:39 ]

Tone of the Meeting

The meeting's tone was generally professional and respectful, despite significant disagreements on budget priorities and energy policy.[ 00:56:15 ]

While members from both parties expressed appreciation for Secretary Burgum's experience and willingness to engage, sharp criticism was leveled by Ranking Member Pingree regarding proposed budget cuts and their potential impact on the department's mission and workforce.[ 00:36:35-00:36:41 ] [ 02:46:03-02:46:07 ] There was strong bipartisan consensus and concern on tribal issues, particularly funding for BIE schools and addressing law enforcement gaps and probate challenges in Indian Country.[ 00:57:12-00:57:13 ] The dialogue on energy policy was extensive and highlighted fundamental differences in approach between the Secretary and some members. Throughout the hearing, there was a consistent theme of seeking greater efficiency, better local partnerships, and streamlined processes within the Department of Interior.[ 00:36:44 ]