Bernhardt approved use of $250M in fees to cover USNPS shutdown costs, internal memo reveals

Acting Interior Secretary David Bernhardt gave more than 100 national parks the green light to use more than $250 million in reserved government funds to stay open during the partial government shutdown, according to an internal letter obtained by The Hill on Friday.

Bernhardt told the National Park Service (NPS) director in January he was authorized to use $252.9 million in unobligated funds to bring back employees to maintain overrun and inundated national parks during the 35-day long shutdown, according to the letter.

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/432260-interior-green-light-more-than-250-million-in-park-admissions