Interior Secretary Doug Burgum discusses shutdown strategies in new interview
In a striking contrast to past government shutdowns, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has highlighted the Trump administration's efforts to keep public spaces accessible during the current funding impasse, as Breitbart reports.
In an interview on Breitbart News Daily, Burgum criticized the Obama administration's handling of previous shutdowns while detailing the current administration's focus on minimizing public inconvenience.
Burgum appeared on the show to address the current, ongoing government shutdown.
He emphasized a significant difference in approach between the current administration and that of former President Barack Obama.
This discussion brought to light past and present strategies during federal funding crises.
Revisiting Obama-era public monument closures
During the Obama administration, a government shutdown led to the closure of numerous national parks and memorials. Iconic sites like the Washington Monument were made inaccessible to the public.
Burgum recalled how these closures were designed to maximize public frustration.
One particularly notable action was the erection of a fence around the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. This memorial, typically an open space on the National Mall with fountains, was deliberately barricaded. The move was seen as a signal to the public that the area was off-limits.
The fence around the World War II Memorial was not a permanent fixture but was constructed specifically for the shutdown. Government funds were used to build this barrier, according to Burgum. This decision impacted many, including veterans who visited on honor flights from across the country.
Veterans blocked from important site
Veterans, including those in wheelchairs, were unable to access the World War II Memorial during the Obama-era shutdown. Burgum shared a personal connection, mentioning his father, who served as a sailor in the Pacific during World War II. He expressed dismay at the barriers preventing such visits.
“They actually paid, using government money, to erect a fence around the World War II Memorial in D.C.,” Burgum said. “It’s on the mall. It’s open.”
“It’s just an open space with fountains,” he continued. “And you could walk through there and like, you know, folks like my dad, who fought in World War II as a sailor in the Pacific, you know these honor flights come in from around the country.”
Contrasting approaches emerge
“They couldn’t even walk through or come through in a wheelchair to see the World War II monument,” Burgum added. “The thing never has a fence around it. They had to create a fence around it just to send a signal that it’s closed.”
Reflecting on these actions, Burgum called the Obama administration’s approach “nothing short of diabolical.” He criticized the use of taxpayer money to create obstacles for veterans. This, he argued, was an intentional effort to inflict distress.
“So spending government money to try to inflict pain on veterans, but none of that’s happening here with, you know, President Trump,” Burgum stated. He underscored the difference in priorities between the two administrations.
Endeavoring to maintain access
In contrast, Burgum explained that the Trump administration is striving to reduce the shutdown’s impact on citizens. The goal is to keep public spaces open wherever possible. This approach marks a departure from past practices.
Burgum also noted that Republicans have passed a continuing resolution to sustain current funding levels. “We’re fighting to make sure that we keep things open and just get the messaging out,” he said. He urged the public to contact Democratic senators to question the necessity of service disruptions.
Host Mike Slater echoed this sentiment, stating, “And your goal, you just said, is to minimize the impact that this is having on people.” He pointed out the stark contrast in objectives. Slater also recalled how past shutdowns under Obama aimed to heighten public discomfort, saying, “The point from the government was to make it hurt as much as possible.”