U.S. Interior secretary downplays climate crisis as Trump budget slashes environmental funding
The Biden-era gains in climate spending and public land protections are under threat as U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum tells Congress the administration sees artificial intelligence and Iran as more urgent.
Dharna Noor reports for The Guardian.
In short:
- Burgum defended steep budget cuts to environmental programs during his congressional testimony, arguing that national security concerns take precedence over climate action.
- The proposed budget slashes $5 billion from the Interior Department, including funding for national parks, renewable energy programs, and Biden-era clean energy tax credits, while prioritizing defense and AI investments.
- Critics, including Representative Chellie Pingree and the advocacy group Public Citizen, condemned the move, warning it would gut the department’s capacity and favor oil, gas, and mining industries over public lands and environmental protection.
Key quote:
“In just four months, the department has been destabilized, and there’s been a stunning decline in its ability to meet its mission.”
— U.S. Rep. Chellie Marie Pingree of Maine, the ranking member of the House appropriations committee
Why this matters:
The Trump administration’s pivot away from climate action comes at a time when scientific evidence overwhelmingly shows the Earth is warming faster than anticipated. A rollback in federal environmental funding risks worsening the impacts of extreme weather that are already disrupting communities and economies. With the Interior Department overseeing vast stretches of public lands its diminished focus on climate and prioritization of fossil fuel production is likely to mean more drilling, mining, and habitat destruction. Burgum’s comments reflect a broader shift in federal priorities that sidelines the climate crisis, with consequences for public health and safety. These moves leave states and local governments with the burden of responding to the climate emergency without sufficient federal support.
Learn more: Trump administration seeks to open more public lands to oil, gas and mining under new Interior plan
