Department of the Interior (Interior) Secretary Ryan Zinke testified before three separate Congressional committees this week, all in defense of the Interior’s fiscal year (FY) 2018 Budget. Zinke defended his Agency’s 2018 Budget, stating on several occasions “this is what a balanced budget looks like.” During the hearing, several Members on both sides of the aisle raised strong objections to the proposed funding levels for both federal Payments in Lieu of Taxes and the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
Regarding the Land and Water Conservation Fund, Zinke indicated that he is a supporter of the program and wants to find a permanent fix; however, the 2018 Budget does not fund any new acquisitions because Interior needs to take care of what it currently has before adding new acquisitions.
Zinke also discussed the upcoming reorganization of the Interior, referring to it as the “greatest reorganization in the history of the Department of the Interior.” Zinke stated that the Interior is moving towards a new system of 13 “joint management areas.” Zinke’s reorganization plans would shift staff from Washington, D.C. to out in the field. Earlier this month, the Washington Post reported that dozens of Senior Executive Service employees received letters informing them that they would be reassigned as early as the end of June. Zinke declined to discuss any movement of specific employees at this time.