King among lawmakers demanding info on Trump use of national park fees to pay for D.C. repairs

MAINE MORNING STAR • June 17, 2026

U.S. House and Senate Democrats are demanding transparency from the Interior Department after media reports revealed the Trump administration redirected roughly $90 million in national parks fees to help fund renovations and upcoming celebratory displays in Washington, D.C. The administration’s use of fee revenues to pay for fountain repairs, statue upgrades and fireworks shows in preparation for America’s 250th birthday on July 4 diverts money from national parks in desperate need of billions of dollars in maintenance, lawmakers wrote in two separate early-June letters to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. Joining in signing the Senate letter was Angus King (I-ME).