Interior: Trump Budget Targets Land Acquisition, Conservation Programs

"The Trump administration would scale back significantly on new federal land acquisitions and revenue-sharing partnerships with states, while seeking new oil and drilling opportunities in the Arctic, under its fiscal 2018 Interior budget proposal unveiled today.

The White House has requested $11.7 billion for Interior in fiscal 2018. That's slightly more than the $11.6 billion budget proposal for the department that the administration outlined in its preliminary "skinny budget" in March, but an 11 percent decrease from current funding.

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said during a press briefing today that the budget request "speaks to the overall mission of Interior and funds our highest priorities." He said it "wasn't an easy job" putting it together, but he wanted to make sure the budget reflected his priority of "shoring up our infrastructure and shoring up our front line" — meaning the department's federal managers and rangers."

Kellie Lunney reports for Greenwire May 23, 2017.

SEE ALSO:

"Trump Proposes Sharp Cuts At Interior Department While Pushing For More Drilling On Public Lands" (Washington Post)