Heinrich, Luján press Burgum over park fees used for D.C. projects
U.S. Sens. Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján are demanding answers on whether national park fees are being redirected to Washington, D.C., projects.
The New Mexico senators joined a Senate letter questioning whether fees collected at sites such as Carlsbad Caverns and Bandelier are being redirected away from park maintenance.
Organ Mountain News report
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sens. Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján are demanding answers from Interior Secretary Doug Burgum about whether National Park Service fee revenue is being redirected to pay for projects in Washington, D.C.
Heinrich, D-N.M., and Luján, D-N.M., joined a Senate letter questioning whether tens of millions of dollars in National Park Service fee revenue, including money collected at New Mexico sites such as Carlsbad Caverns National Park and Bandelier National Monument, is being used for projects near the White House.
The Senate letter follows similar concerns raised by U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez and other House Democrats, who questioned the Interior Department last week over the diversion of National Park Service entrance fees from park maintenance to beautification projects in Washington, D.C.
Organ Mountain News
“Visitors to our national parks contribute millions of dollars to the National Park Service’s budget by purchasing recreation passes and digital versions of the America the Beautiful Pass,” the senators wrote. “The American people deserve transparency and a complete explanation of where their money is being directed.”
The letter says park fee revenue is being used for projects including repairs to ornamental fountains, renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and work involving statues in Washington, D.C.
Under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, at least 80% of recreation fees collected on site generally must be retained and used at the national park where the fees were collected. The remaining 20% is available to the agency.
The senators said digital America the Beautiful Pass revenue appears to be a key issue because online sales do not have the same statutory distribution formula as on-site fee collections.
“Most Americans would assume that the fees paid for the digital passes would be similarly distributed to parks throughout the country,” the senators wrote.
The letter says the National Park Service had more than $24.2 billion in deferred maintenance projects at the end of fiscal year 2025. The senators said redirecting revenue away from parks could worsen maintenance backlogs involving roads, water systems and other facilities.
“This loss in revenue for our parks could have devastating effects on the future viability of these public natural treasures,” the senators wrote.
The senators asked Burgum to answer several questions by June 23, including whether online America the Beautiful Pass revenue is being used for D.C. beautification projects, what percentage of revenue is being used and how much National Park Service recreation fee account money has gone toward D.C.-based projects since December 2025.
The letter also asks whether the National Park Service has calculated how much money park units outside Washington will lose or which backlogged projects will not be completed because of the redistribution.
The letter was led by U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif. Other senators who signed include Michael Bennet, D-Colo.; Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.; John Hickenlooper, D-Colo.; Angus King, I-Maine; Ed Markey, D-Mass.; Jeff Merkley, D-Ore.; Jack Reed, D-R.I.; and Ron Wyden, D-Ore.
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