A dozen Senate Democrats are accusing Interior Secretary Doug Burgum of sidestepping a law that governs national parks in a bid to stroke President Donald Trump’s ego.
Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley, the top Democrat on the Appropriations subcommittee responsible for Interior’s budget, and other lawmakers raised their concerns in a Friday letter to Burgum.
The letter points to the inclusion of Trump’s face on the front of this year’s “America the Beautiful” passes that grant entry to national parks and other federal lands that charge a day-use fee.
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The new passes, announced in November, break with precedent set by the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act that a yearly public contest determine the art on annual passes.
