The Progressive

NewsWire

A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact:

Jayson O’Neill, Director

Western Values Project

jayson@westernvaluesproject.org

(406) 200-8582

Trump Announces Planless Decision To Reopen National Parks

Administration Offers No Details On Opening National Parks Safely.

Helena, MT

President Trump announced that the administration will start to reopen national parks at an Earth Day event at the White House today but provided no details according to reporting by Reuters. President Trump and Interior Secretary David Bernhardt have completely mismanaged the nation's national parks and public sites managed by the National Park Service since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.

In response, Western Values Project Director Jayson O'Neill issued the following statement:

"This shoot from the hip order is eerily similar to the Trump administration's reckless and careless decision to waive entrance fees that caused a surge in visitors and tourists before park superintendents and local officials had safety measures, protocols, procedures, or even plans in place to protect visitors and employees from the coronavirus pandemic.

It would behoove Trump to focus on the immediate needs of American families, not serving up gimmicks to distract from the administration's failures. Let the experts with boots on the ground - working in conjunction with state and local health officials and governors - make the decision because Trump and his team have proven time and again to be incapable of it."

Background:

Trump and Bernhardt Silent After Forcing Locals to Triage Risks as Parks Close Across America

Bernhardt Ignores Health Official's Plea During National Health Crisis

This Trump agency downplayed coronavirus. Two days later, it praised his 'decisive' response

National Parks May No Longer Be 'Social Distance' Solution

Western Values Project brings accountability to the national conversation about Western public lands and national parks conservation - a space too often dominated by industry lobbyists and their allies in government.