The most pro-American stance a leader can take is to defend our best ideas. America's national parks and our nation’s beautiful environment are part of our heritage, identity, and are ultimately our greatest strength. 

From President Theodore Roosevelt dramatically expanding public lands protections to President Richard Nixon signing the Clean Air Act, our best days have come when protecting the environment was led by leaders on both sides of the aisle. 

The current administration is not honoring that shared American value. Nearly two years into President Donald Trump’s second term, his administration is failing the American people on the environment, on our national parks, and on the public lands that are supposed to unite us.

Plenty of people in the environmental movement would’ve opposed anything pro-environment this president did on mere partisan principle. I’m not one of them. Early last year I worked closely with the president’s team and several cabinet officials to help shape a well-intentioned and potentially powerful executive order: “Make America Beautiful Again.” This initiative called on his cabinet to secure a historic investment in our public lands, our forests, our water, and outdoor recreation. I firmly believed in the concept, and I still believe in its potential, but we’ve gotten the opposite of what was promised. 

This president labels his policies “America first,” but on public lands and national parks he’s simply put America last. As someone who was in those rooms making the case, I could not be more disappointed. And it doesn’t need to be this way. 

Their record is dark. Thus far, the Trump Administration has gutted national park staff, opposed by around 86% of Americans.........

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