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As Burgum Testifies on Capitol Hill, Video Billboard Sends a Clear Message that Public Lands Aren’t for Sale

Public Citizen calls out interior secretary’s push to sell off public lands 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, as U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum testifies before the House Appropriations Committee, Public Citizen is sounding the alarm on his efforts to sell off and exploit America’s public lands for corporate gain.

Displayed on a mobile billboard circulating outside the Capitol, a new video calls out Burgum for his push to sell off America’s beloved public lands to the oil, gas, and mining industries, while he joyrides in Park Service helicopters and forces his staff to bake him cookies.

Public Citizen’s calls out Interior Secretary’s push to sell off public lands on May 20th, 2025 in Washington. (Mariah Miranda/AP Content Services for Public Citizen)

President Trump’s budget proposal slashes funding for national parks and proposes transferring some to states — a potential prelude to their outright sale. The Interior Department is also looking to roll back protections of newly protected land near the Grand Canyon as well as Bears Ears, Grand Staircase-Escalante and several other national monuments spread across Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Utah.

Burgum has made clear he sees America’s public lands as assets to be handed over to private industry. He has prioritized selling off public lands, while working to dismantle protections meant to preserve them for future generations.

“After just a few months, it is crystal clear Doug Burgum is not leading the Interior Department for the American people — he’s leading it for fossil fuel executives and wealthy special interests,” said Alan Zibel, a research director with Public Citizen. “Americans want clean air, access to nature, and a future where public lands stay public. Instead, they’re getting a Secretary more interested in pleasing Big Oil than protecting our shared resources.”

Watch the full video here.

Full video transcript below:

Doug Burgum is selling off America’s parks and public lands to the mining, oil, and gas industries, while Doug joyrides and forces his staff to bake him cookies.

America deserves an interior secretary who will protect our parks and public lands — not one who does the bidding of Big Oil and DOGE.

Don’t let Burgum sell off our parks and public lands.