Press Releases

https://www.fws.gov/refuges/Furthering the Trump Administration’s efforts to increase access to public lands, U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt today announced from Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge a proposal for new or expanded hunting and fishing opportunities at 74 national wildlife refuges and 15 national fish hatcheries managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) across more than 1.4 million acres.

Today, the Trump Administration released, “A Federal Strategy to Ensure a Reliable Supply of Critical Minerals,” to make America’s economy and defense more secure. The strategy directs the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) to locate domestic supplies of those minerals, ensure access to information necessary for the study and production of minerals, and expedite permitting for minerals projects.

U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt praised President Donald J. Trump’s Proclamation declaring June as Great Outdoors Month for the third straight year. Great Outdoors Month reiterates the commitment that the U.S. Department of the Interior under the Trump Administration has made to expand access to the nation's public lands for all citizens. Secretary Bernhardt's statement is below

 Today, U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt announced next steps in a collaborative effort with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) aimed at acquiring 13,000 acres of private lands within the Lower Blackfoot River watershed, near the iconic Montana waterway. 

U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt announced the designation of the Shelley House into the African American Civil Rights Network. The Shelley House became the subject of the landmark 1948 United States Supreme Court’s unanimous decision, Shelley v. Kraemer, which is one of the defining moments in the civil rights movement and U.S. Constitutional law.

As the summer vacation and travel seasons opens, U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt announced today that visitor spending in communities near national parks in 2018 resulted in a $40.1 billion benefit to the nation’s economy and supported 329,000 jobs.

Today, U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt announced two actions that will expedite the transfer of eligible Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) facilities into local ownership and management: 

Today, U.S. Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt announced the commitment of more than $106.8 million to support 47 public lands projects throughout Nevada and the California side of the Lake Tahoe Basin.

Important Washington Meetings Reaffirm Relationships under the Compacts of Free Association

Interior Improving Transparency and Accountability, Eliminating Waste & Fraud in Financial Assistance Programs