This is a surprise.

Trump donating first-quarter salary to National Park Service

The press secretary hands over a $78,333 check to the interior secretary and the superintendent of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park.

Much appreciated. But here’s the down side for hikers:

The Center for Western Priorities, a conservation policy organization, quickly criticized the donation as a “publicity stunt” in light of budget cuts the president has proposed for the Department of the Interior.

“You can’t propose $1.6 billion in cuts to our public lands, then pretend a $78,000 donation makes it better,” said Greg Zimmerman, the center’s deputy director. “The White House needs to protect America’s parks and public lands, not pay lip service to them.”

“This ain’t about politics. Whether you’re a Democrat, or Republican, or Libertarian, or vegetarian, these lands belong to you,” Montana Governor Steve Bullock pronounced last week. “They’re our heritage. They’re our economy. They’re our quality of life.”

That didn’t fall on deaf ears. Thousands of people marched on state capitals across the American West, protesting Congressman Jason Chaffetz’s (R-Utah) proposed bill to sell off 3.3 million acres of public land. Shortly after, Chaffetz announced via Instagram that he would withdraw the bill. It was the first successful defeat of anti-American policy proposed by the 115th Congress. …

Why Hikers Need Hunters and Vice Versa
Federal lands belong to all of us—it’s time to unite to fight crooked politicians

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Land totaling the size of Connecticut has been targeted in a new bill in the Republican House, uniting hunters and conservationists in opposition

Now that Republicans have quietly drawn a path to give away much of Americans’ public land, US representative Jason Chaffetz of Utah — @jasoninthehouse —has introduced what the Wilderness Society is calling “step two” in the GOP’s plan to offload federal property. …

Chaffetz introduced the bill alongside a second piece of legislation that would strip the BLM and the US Forest Service of law enforcement capabilities …

The 10 states affected are Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Wyoming. …

Republicans move to sell off 3.3m acres of national land, sparking rallies

Perhaps not ALL Republicans:

The bill seems to run in direct opposition to Interior Secretary appointee Ryan Zinke’s (R-Montana) initiatives. In his confirmation hearing earlier this month, Zinke said: “I am absolutely against transfer and sale of public lands. I can’t be more clear.” …

Outdoor Life – House Bill Would Sell 3.3 Million Acres of Federal Public Land

Kurt Repanshek posted a comprehensive overview:

The arrival of 2017 has opened a new chapter for the National Park Service and the National Park System, one that in the first days of the Trump administration and the Republican-controlled Congress is fraught with concern over both the stability of the agency and the health of the parks.

• The administration wants to reduce the size of the federal workforce.
• Nominees for key agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy could support initiatives detrimental to natural resources.
• Republicans in Congress are pushing to limit, if not entirely do away with, use of the Antiquities Act by presidents to designate national monuments.
• Budget increases for the Park Service, feeble during the past eight years, could be even more meager.

It’s too early to say how these will play out, but they all bear watching. …

National Parks Traveler 

Personally, I’m very worried for ALL the American Parks. Republicans are not often friends of outdoor recreation. 😦