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National Park Service maintenance sidelined for Freedom 250 projects
National Park Service maintenance projects are being sidelined in favor of White House priorities related to the 'Freedom 250' initiative, marking the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence. According to documents obtained by The Associated Press and officials from the park service and Interior Department, approved maintenance projects have been relegated to a 'low priority' list.
These White House-backed projects include repairs to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, though officials noted those specific repairs were botched. Meanwhile, approximately 1,500 other projects across more than 200 sites are expected to go undone. These shelved tasks range from roof repairs at Golden Gate National Recreation Area to computer upgrades at Katmai National Park and basic supply purchases at Yellowstone National Park.
The diversion of resources is expected to worsen a national park repair backlog that has doubled over the last decade to more than $24 billion. Because of the low priority designation and the upcoming end of the fiscal year on September 30, officials stated that employees should not expect these sidelined projects to be contracted.
Entities
Department of the Interior · Donald Trump · Lincoln Memorial · National Park Service · White House
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 4 SOURCES] Approximately 1,500 maintenance projects on the low priority list are expected to go undone. www.kaaltv.com · www.kob.com · www.troyrecord.com · wtop.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Shelved projects span more than 200 sites, including roof repairs at Golden Gate National Recreation Area and computer upgrades at Katmai National Park. www.kaaltv.com · www.kob.com · www.troyrecord.com · wtop.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Maintenance projects approved for this year at national park sites were relegated to a 'low priority' list. www.kaaltv.com · www.kob.com · www.troyrecord.com · wtop.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The national park repair backlog has doubled over the last decade to more than $24 billion. www.kaaltv.com · www.kob.com · www.troyrecord.com · wtop.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] White House priorities, including repairs to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, are taking precedence over other projects. www.kaaltv.com · www.kob.com · www.troyrecord.com · wtop.com