Press Releases

The Department of the Interior today announced the release of the Interagency Recreation Visitation Data Report, the first unified compilation of recreation visitation estimates across all federal land and water management agencies, as directed by the EXPLORE Act. The landmark report provides a comprehensive, standardized view of how millions of people experience outdoor recreation across hundreds of millions of acres of federally managed public lands and waters.

The Department of the Interior today celebrated the opening of the new Lincoln Memorial Undercroft Museum, unveiling a 15,000-square-foot immersive museum beneath one of the nation's most iconic memorials. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum joined the National Park Service, National Park Foundation and project partners to officially open the new experience to the public.

The Department of the Interior today announced a Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Colossal Biosciences to advance the use of biobanking and genomic science in support of wildlife conservation and species recovery efforts.

The Department of the Interior today announced that more than 1,900 state and local governments across the country will receive a total of $733 million in Payments in Lieu of Taxes program funding for 2026. Because local governments cannot tax federal lands, these annual payments help defray the costs associated with maintaining important community services.

The Department of the Interior today announced two coordinated regulatory actions aimed at modernizing federal onshore oil and gas policy, eliminating unnecessary administrative barriers, and strengthening the nation’s long-term energy leadership. The proposals revise both the Bureau of Land Management’s oil and gas leasing rule and the waste prevention rule, reinforcing the Trump administration’s commitment to responsible development, lower energy costs for families, and the continued expansion of American Energy Dominance.

Today, the Department of the Interior announced a settlement agreement with affiliates of Invenergy, North America’s largest privately held developer, owner, and operator of independent power infrastructure, aimed at strengthening American security and lowering costs, advancing goals central to President Donald Trump’s Energy Dominance Agenda.

The Department of the Interior today announced a 60-day public comment period on proposed recreational climbing guidance and potential updates to wilderness study area management policies for lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service.

The Department of the Interior today announced the distribution of more than $327 million in formula grants and $134 million in competitive grants from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to all 50 states, U.S. territories and the District of Columbia, a major investment in the parks, playgrounds, trails and open spaces that bring communities together across the country. These funds will be matched at least 1:1, for a total outdoor recreation investment of more than $900 million.

The Department of the Interior today celebrated the completion of the George Washington Memorial Parkway North Section Rehabilitation, a once-in-a-generation renewal of one of the region’s most beautiful and heavily used routes into the nation’s capital. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum cut the ribbon with National Park Service leaders to celebrate this grand achievement.

In celebration of Great Outdoors Month and National Trails Day on June 6, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum designated five new National Recreation Trails and one National Water Trail, adding 162.5 miles of hiking, paddling and outdoor recreation opportunities across five states.