Tag

Interior Department

All articles tagged with #interior department

politics5 days ago•2 min saved

Warning on Lincoln Reflecting Pool peeling surfaced before Hearn case, charges later dropped

A June warning from a National Park Service engineer about peeling in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool during renovations preceded a June 19 charge against former Olympian David Hearn for destruction of property; prosecutors later dropped the case after Interior Department documents indicated the damage resulted from flawed installation and overspray by the contractor, not vandalism, while Trump publicly claimed the pool was vandalized and there were moves to dismiss the case without prejudice.

via NBC News|

#david-hearn #department-of-justice #interior-department

national11 days ago•2 min saved

Bubble-Tinged Vandalism at WWII Memorial Prompts Investigation

The World War II Memorial on the National Mall was vandalized with pink spray-painted messages reading 'Clean hands, dirty money,' and a fountain overflowed with bubbles as U.S. Park Police sealed off the area; the Interior Department called the act an 'utter disgrace' and said authorities are investigating with no suspect identified yet.

via NBC4 Washington|

#bubbles #interior-department #national

politics18 days ago•11 min saved

Interior Turmoil: Burgum Faces Secrecy, Turnover as Staff Presses Back

Interior Department staff who once supported Secretary Burgum now describe a poorly run, increasingly secretive agency marked by mass turnover, reports of nondisclosure agreements, shredded documents, and disappearing messages that raise questions about record-keeping, as the turmoil spills into a public clash with U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro over the Reflecting Pool vandalism—even as Interior and the White House defend Burgum.

via Politico|

#doug-burgum #federal-records-act #interior-department

politics24 days ago•5 min saved

Olympian Cleared as Reflecting Pool Damage Traced to Flawed Contractor Work

The U.S. Justice Department has dropped charges against former Olympian David Hearn after Interior Department documents showed the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool damage resulted from a rushed, flawed contractor installation rather than vandalism; a key witness testified the pool was already damaged before Hearn touched it, and prosecutors say they learned of the flawed installation amid a hurried renovation tied to the America 250 celebration around Independence Day 2026.

via USA Today|

#david-hearn #doj #flawed-installation

politics24 days ago•5 min saved

DOJ blames botched renovation for Reflecting Pool damage, not vandals

The DOJ moved to dismiss charges against former Olympian David Hearn over vandalism at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, saying newly disclosed information shows the pool’s blue lining was installed hastily and did not bond properly, causing widespread damage rather than vandalism. The Interior Department is criticized for not sharing relevant information earlier, and Trump had publicly blamed vandals for the damage. The findings underscore a botched renovation project that overran budget and schedule.

via Politico|

#department-of-justice #donald-trump #interior-department

politics1 month ago•5 min saved

Trump's DC golf plan ignites clash with residents

President Trump plans to break ground on Sept. 1 for a new 'world-class' golf course on National Park Service land near the White House, a move that would replace the public East Potomac course and draw opposition from local residents and preservationists; a lawsuit by the DC Preservation League challenges the process, a federal judge questioned whether there has been a final agency action, and the White House has not disclosed plans or secured required sign-offs. A debris pile from East Wing renovations containing toxic metals was found at the site, complicating the project.

via NBC News|

#federal-court #golf #interior-department

politics1 month ago•11 min saved

Trump reshapes endangered-species rules, easing habitat protections

Trump's administration finalizes changes to the Endangered Species Act that shrink protections for threatened species, expand development exemptions (including Gulf of Mexico drilling), and shift habitat decisions to states; critics warn these rollbacks could jeopardize wildlife recovery, while officials argue they balance conservation with economic interests.

via The Independent|

#canada-lynx #center-for-biological-diversity #donald-trump

environment1 month ago•1 min saved

Trump Admin Repeals Habitat-Harm Rule, Expanding Development Under ESA

The Interior Department finalized the repeal of the Endangered Species Act 'harm rule' that treated habitat destruction as harm to endangered species, arguing it aligns with the Act's intent and reduces regulatory burdens; the change could enable more mining, ranching and other development in protected areas, while opponents like Earthjustice vow to sue.

via The Washington Post|

#endangered-species-act #environment #environmental-policy

politics1 month ago•4 min saved

Burgum pins pool woes on vandals, downplays motorcade damage claim

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum doubled down on blaming vandals for the reflecting pool’s problems, saying photos show damage to the pool bottom and that the president’s motorcade over the unfinished pool did not cause it; seven people have been arrested in connection with the damage, and Burgum defended ongoing federal restoration work as controversy swirls ahead of America’s 250th birthday.

via Politico|

#burgum #interior-department #politics

politics1 month ago•186 min saved

Plan to drain and deep-clean the Reflecting Pool gains momentum with new bids

The Interior Department is soliciting bids for a contractor to maintain the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after a second round of repairs, including daily cleaning, debris removal, filter upkeep, and periodic draining for a two-week clean, with annual pumping out during winter. The effort aims to fix algae blooms, a slick bottom, and vandalism concerns, and is part of a project that has cost over $14 million so far. Bids are due by July 8, and work is expected to begin in August, following Independence Day celebrations.

via CNN|

#algae #interior-department #lincoln-memorial

politics2 months ago•9 min saved

Trump’s pool makeover backfires as Lincoln Memorial pool runs green

A renovation ordered by Trump left the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool green with algae, despite plans to keep it crystal clear with nanobubble ozone technology and hydrogen peroxide. The project’s cost ballooned from an initial $1.5–2 million to about $14.2 million, and officials warn algae blooms are a persistent challenge in the shallow, warm pool as the National Park Service manages maintenance backlogs ahead of July 4.

via Politico|

#algae #interior-department #lincoln-memorial-reflecting-pool

politics2 months ago•185 min saved

Court orders broad restoration of national park signage altered under Trump policy

A federal judge in Massachusetts ordered the Interior Department and National Park Service to restore all signs, displays, and exhibits altered or removed under President Trump’s directive, with full restoration by July 3 ahead of the 250th birthday and an injunction against further changes. The ruling, in a coalition lawsuit by conservation groups, argues parks should present history in full and accurately, citing examples like a Grand Teton marker about the Piegan Blackfeet massacre and climate-change signage at Fort Sumter, and calls the educational role of parks a “cornerstone of public learning.” The Interior Department criticized the decision and said it may appeal.

via CNN|

#court-ruling #history-signage #interior-department

politics2 months ago•1 min saved

Judge orders reinstatement of park exhibits on slavery and climate change

A federal judge in Boston ordered the Interior Department to reinstate signs and exhibits about slavery, climate change and other topics removed from national parks, ruling the removals undermine park integrity and amount to censorship; the exhibits must be restored within 21 days ahead of the 250th anniversary. Plaintiffs argued removals violated congressional mandates and lacked rational justification, while the Interior maintained the policy aimed to tell the full, accurate history; the decision follows President Trump’s March 2025 executive order referencing revisionist history.

via NBC News|

#climate-change #injunction #interior-department

style2 months ago•24 min saved

Algae surfaces in Reflecting Pool after renovation, officials say it's residual

Algae appeared in the Reflecting Pool shortly after a $14 million renovation; officials say it’s residual from dormant supply lines, the algae is being removed, and measures are in place to prevent a recurrence, with President Trump having previously praised the pool’s renovated water.

via The Washington Post|

#algae #interior-department #reflecting-pool

politics2 months ago•14 min saved

Trump taps climate-law funds to tackle Western drought

With the Colorado River at record-low levels, the Trump administration is using Inflation Reduction Act funds to extend Biden-era contracts that paid water users to reduce deliveries, while Interior surveys a long backlog of proposed projects totaling more than $50 billion. Experts say meaningful relief requires permanently reducing agricultural water use, but political and legal obstacles make such changes difficult; in the near term, short-term buyouts and fallowing agreements funded by federal dollars continue to flow, illustrating a crisis-driven approach that may not solve the river’s core imbalance.

via Politico|

#colorado-river #drought #inflation-reduction-act