Department of the Interior

Donald Trump urged U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro to revisit dropped charges related to vandalism at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The original indictment was against David Hearn, but prosecutors later received documents from the Department of the Interior indicating that the damage might have resulted from flawed installation by Atlantic Industrial Coatings (AIC). This new evidence made it difficult for prosecutors to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Hearn caused the damage.

The Department of Health and Human Services plans to award a $150 million contract to Burke Law Group, a Houston-based firm led by a former Trump administration official, to provide legal services to unaccompanied immigrant children. The firm has limited immigration law expertise, and the previous contract with Acacia Center for Justice expired after disputes over client information.

The Department of Health and Human Services plans to award a $150 million contract to the Burke Law Group, a Texas firm run by a former Trump administration official, to provide legal aid to unaccompanied immigrant children. The firm replaces the Acacia Center for Justice, whose contract expired, and has limited immigration law expertise, with only two of its nearly 30 lawyers specializing in immigration and asylum law.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services plans to award a $150 million contract to Burke Law Group, a Texas-based firm with limited immigration law expertise and ties to a former Trump administration official, to provide legal services to unaccompanied immigrant children. The contract replaces a previous agreement with the Acacia Center for Justice, which expired after disputes over client information sharing.

Sens. Whitehouse and Heinrich are requesting an investigation into the Interior Department's handling of damage to the Reflecting Pool's renovations. Justice Department officials alleged that the Interior concealed information about the damage.

A $150M contract for child immigrant legal services has been awarded to Houston-based Burke Law Group, which has ties to the Trump administration. Marcella Burkey, a founder of the firm, was a Trump appointee to the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of the Interior, and Jeffrey Hall, a founding partner, was recently appointed to serve in the EPA.

Philadelphia seeks a federal appeals court review of a ruling that allowed the Trump administration to remove exhibits highlighting George Washington's role as an enslaver at the President’s House Site. The city argues the decision creates a loophole for federal agencies to bypass judicial review under the Administrative Procedure Act. The National Park Service has since replaced the exhibit with a version critics say downplays Washington's enslavement of nine people.

President Donald Trump publicly disagreed with U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro over the dismissal of a felony case against David Hearn, who was accused of damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Pirro's office cited contractor failures in the pool's renovation as a reason to drop charges, while Trump labeled the incident 'vandalism.'

President Donald Trump publicly disagreed with U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro over the dismissal of a felony case against former U.S. Olympian David Hearn, who was accused of damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Pirro's office cited contractor failures in the pool's renovation as the primary cause of damage, leading to the dismissal, while Trump insisted the incident was 'a pure case of VANDALISM.'

The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool's recent controversy involves David Hearn, a former Olympic athlete, who was accused of defacing the pool by removing sealant. Charges against him were dropped after it was revealed the damage resulted from flawed contractor installation. The pool's Trump-era renovation has become a political flashpoint, with critics accusing cronyism and supporters highlighting maintenance challenges.

The U.S. Attorney's office dismissed charges against Olympic canoeist David Hearn for damaging the Reflecting Pool, citing evidence that the damage resulted from a flawed installation process rather than vandalism. Prosecutors acknowledged being misled by incomplete information from the Department of the Interior.

Arizona, California, and Nevada would face reduced water allocations from the Colorado River under a federal proposal to address declining reservoir levels. The 10-year plan allows for up to 3 million acre-feet of collective cuts by 2036 and includes biennial management decisions to adapt to hydrological conditions.

The federal government proposed a plan for Colorado River management requiring Arizona, California, and Nevada to reduce water usage, while sparing other states from immediate cuts. The 10-year framework aims to address declining reservoir levels caused by drought and overuse, with potential collective cuts of up to 3 million acre-feet through 2036.

Arizona, California, and Nevada would face water cuts under a federal proposal to manage the Colorado River, while Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Wyoming are temporarily spared. The 10-year plan aims to address declining reservoir levels due to drought and overuse, with potential collective cuts of up to 3 million acre-feet by 2036.

Nathan Matthews, a 43-year-old firefighter from Lincoln, Nebraska, died from burn injuries sustained while battling the Knowles wildfire in Colorado, according to the Department of the Interior.

A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officer deployed a Taser at a gas station on the Fort Mojave Indian Reservation, sparking a fire that caused burns and nerve damage to Chuck Coyl. Coyl claims no charges have been filed against him, and a use-of-force expert criticized the escalation as unwarranted. The Department of the Interior confirmed the Taser deployment and stated a review is underway.

Donald Trump directed the Department of the Interior to place signs outside the National Museum of American History warning visitors about 'ideological capture' based on a contested report. The order follows criticism of the Smithsonian's leadership and aims to pressure the institution to align with Trump's vision of patriotic storytelling, while the Smithsonian maintains its commitment to complex historical narratives.

President Trump claimed the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was drained to repair damage caused by vandals, stating the slashes were 300 yards long. The pool, part of a $14 million renovation project, has faced issues including algae blooms and chipping. At least three individuals were charged with property destruction for removing blue paint from the pool.

Colorado lost the most public lands jobs in 2025, with 1,753 positions eliminated, according to a report by consulting firms Prospect Partners and Hawk Eye Strategies. A national park ranger described operations as running on a 'skeleton crew,' while advocacy group Mountain Mamas highlighted concerns over forest safety and climate impacts. The layoffs disproportionately affected junior employees and field operations.

A federal judge halted the Trump administration from enforcing new grant conditions targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies and immigration enforcement compliance for federal programs in California and Oregon. The injunction, issued by U.S. District Judge William Orrick, blocks four federal agencies from imposing conditions that could defund public safety, health, and environmental initiatives.

Four Democratic senators from Maryland and Virginia have sent a letter to the Department of the Interior, expressing concerns over the Trump administration's plan to redevelop the East Potomac Golf Links. The senators allege the administration prematurely canceled a lease held by the National Links Trust and seek transparency regarding the project's impact on affordability, accessibility, and environmental compliance.

Four Democratic senators from Maryland and Virginia sent a letter to the Department of the Interior demanding answers about the Trump administration's plan to redevelop East Potomac Golf Links. They expressed concerns that canceling the lease of the National Links Trust, which managed the course, could reduce affordability and accessibility for public users. The senators requested a transparent plan addressing costs, environmental compliance, and preservation of public access.

Four Democratic senators from Maryland and Virginia sent a letter to the Department of the Interior demanding answers about the Trump administration's plan to redevelop East Potomac Golf Links. They expressed concerns over the cancellation of the National Links Trust's lease and potential impacts on the course's affordability and accessibility. The senators requested a transparent plan by July 20 to address public access, environmental regulations, and preservation of historic elements.

Four senators from Maryland and Virginia sent a letter to the Department of the Interior demanding transparency about the Trump administration’s plan to redevelop the East Potomac Golf Links, which involves canceling the lease of the National Links Trust. The senators expressed concerns about the impact on affordability, accessibility, and environmental compliance, requesting answers to eight specific questions by July 20.

President Donald Trump's plan to renovate the East Potomac Golf Links has drawn criticism from four Democratic senators from Maryland and Virginia, who sent a letter to the Department of the Interior expressing concerns over the cancellation of the National Links Trust's lease and potential impacts on the course's affordability and accessibility.

Four Democratic senators from Maryland and Virginia sent a letter to the Department of the Interior, expressing concerns over the Trump administration's plan to redevelop East Potomac Golf Links. They criticized the premature cancellation of the National Links Trust's lease and demanded transparency regarding the project's affordability, environmental compliance, and impact on public access.

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.