Department of the Interior Secretary Burgum is seeking a significant increase in United States Park Police (USPP) funding so that the Force has the personnel and resources to operate safely and effectively after years of severe underfunding. The increase is to hire new officers, provide better training, and purchase equipment. During the last two weeks, he testified before two Senate committees regarding the FY27 DOI Budget.
The Hearings:
At both hearings, Secretary Burgum testified that he is seeking an increase of $111 million for the USPP FY 27 Budget due to historical underfunding that prevented safe and effective operations.
Many thanks to the President and Secretary Burgum for taking action to correct long-ignored USPP readiness issues.
Video clips of Secretary Burgum’s USPP-related testimony at the two hearings, along with the written testimony he submitted, are included below.
Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies – April 22, 2026
Written Testimony of Sec. Burgum – USPP See Page 5-
burgum_testimony_fy27Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies- April, 29, 2026
Written Testimony of Sec. Burgum – USPP See Page 5-
Burgum-Testimony-author-4-29-26-