Interior Secretary Doug Burgum told a room full of CEOs and energy executives that Americans who want to protect public lands are not “financially literate.” Burgum made the remarks during BlackRock’s 2026 Infrastructure Summit this week in Washington, D.C., while complaining about the pace of permitting for energy development on federal lands.
“All the people that are trying to stop activity on federal lands, you don’t understand the financial impact of it,” Burgum said, before turning to the audience of corporate leaders. “All of you are financially literate. Wouldn’t it be great if we could have the world be a little more financially literate?“
The comments are the latest sign of Burgum’s view that America’s public lands are primarily assets on a financial ledger. During his Senate confirmation hearing last year, Burgum argued that the nation’s lands and minerals were worth trillions of dollars on “America’s balance sheet.” At the time, the Center for Western Priorities noted that Burgum ignores the real source of that value: “The full economic value of America’s public lands comes from the fact that they are intact landscapes that provide benefits for all Americans.“
Federal data backs that up. Just last week, the Bureau of Economic Analysis reported that the outdoor recreation economy generated $1.3 trillion in economic output in 2024, supported 5.2 million American jobs, and accounted for 2.4 percent of GDP. The sector has grown 84 percent since 2012, according to industry analysts, contributing more to the U.S. economy than farming, mining, and utilities — and that’s before you calculate the very real financial benefits that clean water, clean air, and healthy ecosystems provide to every American.
The insult landed the same week that Burgum drew criticism for his handling of the energy price crisis triggered by the Iran war. Politico reported that industry officials have grown frustrated with Burgum’s absence from major energy decisions, with one calling him “the ‘Where’s Waldo’ of the administration.” By Thursday, Burgum was en route to a conference in Tokyo, stopping briefly in Anchorage to tout Alaska’s role in “energy dominance.”
Of course, even the $1.3 trillion figure doesn’t capture what public lands are actually worth. No balance sheet can fully measure a family camping trip in a national forest or a kid catching their first fish in a wild stream. Americans steward these places not just for their economic output but because they belong to our children and grandchildren. That’s a return on investment that Doug Burgum’s spreadsheet will never show.
Why America’s lesser-known parks matter more than ever
In the latest episode of The Landscape podcast, Aaron and Kate are joined by Jesse Chakrin, executive director of the Fund for People in Parks. They discuss how his organization supports smaller, overlooked national park sites across the West through philanthropy and partnerships. From multilingual signage to junior ranger programs in American Samoa, Jesse shares how they’re making parks more accessible and welcoming while navigating an increasingly challenging political environment. You can subscribe to The Landscape on Apple Podcasts and even watch us on YouTube.
Quick hits
Court reverses $14 million dollars in conservation grants cancelled by Burgum
E&E News | Democracy Forward (Press release)
Xcel energy floats plan to keep coal plants running until 2030
Trump opened more public land to coal mining. Companies aren’t interested
Big Bend wall opponents ask Congress to block funds
Proposed Forest Service mining rule is a mixed bag
Bill to transfer 124 acres of public land for Utah reservoir moves forward after Mike Lee agrees to ‘reversion’ clause
BLM proposal to log Oregon old growth forests up for public comment
Colorado ophthalmologist with no background in pollution science named to EPA advisory panel
Quote of the day
I have not found anyone that is saying they think a wall in the park, or even the state park, is a good idea.”
—Former Big Bend National Park Superintendent Bob Krumenaker, Public Domain
Picture This
Meet one of our most effective law enforcement tools. Four legs. One incredible nose.
Today is National K9 Veterans Day, a day to honor the working dogs who have served alongside their human partners in the military and law enforcement.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service K9s play a critical role in protecting wildlife and enforcing federal conservation laws. These highly trained dogs work with wildlife inspectors and special agents to detect illegally trafficked wildlife products such as ivory, rhino horn, reptiles, endangered species and more as they move through ports and borders.
They also work alongside K9 Federal Wildlife Officers on national wildlife refuges, helping patrol public lands and support conservation law enforcement across the country.
With noses up to 100,000 times more sensitive than ours, these dogs can detect things humans would never notice. They train hard, work hard, and form incredible partnerships with their handlers. Thank you, K9s. Y’all have a ruff job.
Photo of USFWS K9s by USFWS and by Missouri Department of Conservation Protection Branch.