Interior Secretary Doug Burgum appeared before the House Natural Resources Committee on Wednesday morning to defend President Trump's fiscal 2027 budget request for the Interior Department, a proposal that would cut funding by nearly 13 percent and eliminate programs the president has labeled the 'Green New Scam.'
The Trump administration is seeking $15.9 billion for the department, a reduction of roughly $2.4 billion from 2026 levels. Burgum is expected to argue that the cuts target duplicative and wasteful initiatives, aligning with the president's broader push to shrink federal spending.
The hearing comes as the administration faces scrutiny over the cost of Trump's Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool renovation project, a matter that has drawn criticism from both Democrats and some Republicans. Lawmakers are likely to press Burgum on how the budget reconciles cuts with such high-profile expenditures.
This budget battle is unfolding alongside other contentious spending debates on Capitol Hill. Recently, GOP lawmakers slammed Defense Secretary Hegseth over a $1.5 trillion Pentagon budget and Iran war strategy, highlighting the party's internal divisions over military spending. Meanwhile, FBI Director Patel faced a Senate grilling over his $12.5 billion budget request amid drinking allegations, adding to the tense atmosphere around Trump's fiscal priorities.
Burgum's testimony is part of a broader administration effort to sell its budget vision, which also includes major cuts to energy and environmental programs. Critics argue the reductions could hamper conservation efforts and public lands management, while supporters say they are necessary to rein in government waste.
The hearing began at 10 a.m. EDT and is being streamed live. Watch the live video above for full coverage.
