Department of the Interior

The Trump administration is blocking new offshore wind permits and offering buyouts to developers, prompting states to urge companies to remain invested in the industry. Federal deals, including a $129 million agreement with Duke Energy, aim to cancel projects, while states argue these actions are illegal and threaten climate goals.

The Trump administration is blocking new offshore wind permits and offering buyouts to developers, causing uncertainty in the industry. States like New York and North Carolina are advocating for continued investment in offshore wind despite federal opposition, with some developers reconsidering projects due to regulatory challenges.

The Trump administration is blocking new offshore wind permits and offering buyouts to developers, prompting states like New York to urge companies to remain invested in the industry. Federal deals with Duke Energy and others have totaled over $2.5 billion to cancel projects, while seven states have sued, claiming these actions are illegal.

President Trump's administration is blocking new offshore wind permits and offering buyouts to developers, prompting states to urge companies to remain invested in the industry. Federal actions, including a $129 million deal with Duke Energy to abandon a North Carolina project, have led to concerns about the future of offshore wind development, with states like New York emphasizing its importance for climate goals.

The Trump administration is blocking new offshore wind permits and offering buyouts to developers, causing uncertainty in the industry. States like New York are urging companies to maintain investments for future clean energy goals despite federal opposition.

The Trump administration is blocking offshore wind permits and offering buyouts to developers, causing uncertainty in the industry. State leaders, including New York's Andrew Gounardes, argue that federal actions threaten long-term investments in offshore wind, despite states' aggressive clean energy targets.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum defends Trump’s infrastructure initiatives in Washington, D.C., highlighting restored memorials, graffiti removal, and crime reduction as proof of combating decline. Projects include a $14.7 million Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool restoration and a $400 million White House ballroom, with the Department of the Interior citing 510 graffiti removals and 1,301 bench rehabilitations.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum defends President Donald Trump's infrastructure projects in Washington, D.C., highlighting efforts to restore memorials, reduce graffiti, and improve public spaces as proof that America is rejecting decline. The administration has spent over $400 million on projects including the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool and White House ballroom, while the Department of the Interior reports removing graffiti, homeless encampments, and repairing roads and monuments.

The Trump administration co-opted the U.S. 250th anniversary celebration by promoting a modified Betsy Ross flag design through its Freedom 250 initiative, which critics argue shifted control from a nonpartisan group to a partisan event organizer. America250, a nonpartisan organization, transferred its trademark application for the flag design to Freedom 250 after receiving partial funding from the Interior Department.

Kevin Lilly, a wealth manager appointed by President Trump, has served in an acting capacity as the assistant secretary for Fish and Wildlife for nearly a year without formal confirmation. Conservation advocacy groups have expressed concerns about his lack of public lands experience and its potential impact on the Department of the Interior's conservation commitments.

Donald Trump and the Department of the Interior face pressure to release photo and video evidence of alleged sabotage at the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool. The $14.7m renovation of the landmark has encountered issues like algae blooms, peeling paint, and dead ducks, with crews erecting fencing near the area.

California plans to sue the Trump administration over its deal to terminate an offshore wind project off the state’s central coast, arguing it undermines clean energy goals. The state aims to develop 25 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2045 but claims the administration’s buyback of leases for Golden State Wind and another project jeopardizes these plans. The Trump administration is promoting fossil fuels and geothermal energy through lease buybacks, while California criticizes the move as a setback for innovation and climate progress.

California intends to sue the Trump administration over its deal to end an offshore wind project, Golden State Wind, off the state's central coast. The administration is buying back leases for offshore wind projects to redirect investments toward fossil fuels, jeopardizing California's 25 gigawatt offshore wind energy goal by 2045.

The Department of the Interior announced five arrests and five federal citations for vandalism at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. A total of 14 police reports have been filed in connection with the incident.

The Lincoln Memorial's Reflecting Pool, recently renovated at a cost of over $15 million, is experiencing visible issues including green algae growth and peeling blue coating. Experts attribute the problems to a rushed project lacking proper design and environmental expertise, with no-bid contracts awarded to expedite completion before the July 4 holiday. Federal officials and the White House have denied involvement in the contracting process.

The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool's newly applied blue coating is peeling days after a $14.7 million renovation ordered by President Donald Trump. Experts and the contractor involved have not yet identified the cause of the delamination or confirmed whether it is a localized or systemic issue.

Environmental groups are challenging the Trump administration and Alaska over the transfer of 2 million acres of federally protected land, which the Interior Department revoked protections for in February 2025. The case involves a legal battle over constitutional arguments, including Alaska's motion to dismiss based on the 11th Amendment and plaintiffs' request for an injunction to halt the land handover.

California and Oregon municipalities are seeking to block Trump administration policies that impose grant conditions on public safety, health, and environmental funding, arguing they violate constitutional and legal standards. A federal judge indicated he may grant a preliminary injunction against the Department of Homeland Security and Justice but expressed skepticism about claims against the Interior Department.

The National Park Service is using hydrogen peroxide in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool to address algae growth, as confirmed by a Department of the Interior spokesperson.

A federal judge ruled she lacks authority to reinstate a Yosemite National Park ranger who was fired for flying a trans pride flag on their day off. The ranger, Shannon Joslin, sued the Department of the Interior, arguing their firing violated free speech protections, but the judge dismissed the case, stating legal constraints prevent her from blocking potential criminal charges or ruling on the dismissal's constitutionality.

Giant '8647' markings linked to anti-President Donald Trump sentiment were found on the National Mall, prompting an investigation by US Park Police. The Department of the Interior condemned the act as 'deranged vandalism' and emphasized it will not be tolerated.

The Trump administration renovated the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, DC, with a $14.2 million project to seal and paint its bottom 'American flag blue.' Satellite images show the pool's surface changed from green to a darker hue after the renovation, which Trump claimed improved its functionality and appearance.

The Trump administration's Department of the Interior is terminating 43 partnerships with groups it claims contradict its mission, cutting over $4 million in funding for programs related to DEI, environmental justice, and support for illegal immigrants. Groups targeted include the Hispanic Access Foundation, Latino Outdoors, and Conservation International, among others, due to alleged misalignment with administration priorities.

The Department of the Interior under Secretary Doug Burgum is terminating 43 partnerships with groups it claims contradict the Trump administration’s priorities, cutting over $4 million in funding for programs related to DEI, environmental justice, and support for illegal immigrants. Targeted groups include the Hispanic Access Foundation, Latino Outdoors, and the American Alliance of Museums, among others.

The National Capital Planning Commission requested additional details on President Trump's proposed 250-foot arch near the Lincoln Memorial, including its impact on air travel navigation, construction, and traffic. The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts approved the arch's design, but public comments overwhelmingly opposed the project, citing concerns about scale, safety, and cost.

An Obama-appointed judge temporarily blocked the National Park Service from removing an anti-Trump '86 47' flag near the National Mall, siding with progressive group Accountability Now USA. The Department of the Interior criticized the ruling, calling the flag a threat, while the judge cited First Amendment protections and the flag's ambiguous meaning.

President Donald Trump's Department of the Interior installed a patriotic exhibit at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., featuring Revolutionary War figures Caesar Rodney and 12 soldiers. The site, previously associated with protests including those following George Floyd's death in 2020, now highlights America's 250th anniversary themes with the new installation.

The Trump administration installed a patriotic exhibition at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., featuring Caesar Rodney and 12 Revolutionary War soldiers. The site, previously associated with protests including those during the 2020 George Floyd riots, now highlights historical figures as part of preparations for America's 250th anniversary celebrations.

President Donald Trump inspected a restoration project at the National Mall's Reflecting Pool, criticizing the previous $38 million fix under Obama as a 'disaster'. The new overhaul costs $1.8 million and is expected to be completed in two weeks. Trump also announced several upcoming projects for the nation's capital.

President Donald Trump inspected a restoration project at the Reflecting Pool, criticizing the previous $38 million fix under Obama and touting his own $1.8 million overhaul. The project is part of a broader 'beautification' push for the nation's capital. Trump also previewed upcoming projects, including improvements to the Lincoln Memorial.

A controversial National Park fee plan criticized by Democrats as discriminatory, which charges foreign visitors $250 annual passes versus $80 for U.S. residents, generated $2 million in 2026 for conservation efforts, according to DOI Secretary Doug Burgum. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff opposed the plan, citing public notice violations and concerns over visitor retention, while the Trump-aligned DOI defended it as 'America First pricing.'

The U.S. Department of the Interior's plan to charge higher National Park fees for foreign visitors, criticized by Democrats as discriminatory, generated over $2 million in conservation funds in 2026's first quarter. Secretary Doug Burgum defended the policy as fair, citing taxpayer subsidies for parks and emphasizing affordability for American visitors, while Democrats argued it risks visitor retention and privacy.