Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) signed onto letters complaining about the U.S. National Park Service’s money to fund beautification projects for Washington, D.C., and opposing the proposed triumphal arch.
“The issue here isn’t architecture. Or patriotism. It’s the Constitution. Congress passes our nation’s laws. And no president—regardless of party—has the authority to violate three separate laws on a project that Congress hasn’t authorized,” said Sen. King on X.
“The lack of transparency around awards for these beautification projects, as well as the loss in revenue meant for the maintenance and betterment of our national parks threatens the public’s trust and the long-term integrity of our nation’s most beloved public lands.”
“Accordingly, as we investigate the potential waste, fraud, and abuse by the administration, we request a detailed explanation for where the revenue from digital passes is being directed and what percentage of this revenue is supporting the D.C. projects rather than supporting the maintenance of our public parks,” said a June 10 letter.
In the letter, King and 10 other Senators requested information from U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum regarding the use of national park fee revenue on beautification projects.
The letter accuses the administration of illegally using the funds that are meant to go back to the National Park Service.
The Senators were critical of President Trump’s repairing of ornamental fountains, calling the renovations “vanity projects.”
“Rather than distribute these fee revenues back to our national parks and public lands, it appears that the Department of the Interior has redirected fee revenues to pay for President Trump’s vanity projects around Washington,” says the letter.
King and the other Senators particularly highlighted the funds spent to renovate the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, a repair project that has drawn intense hatred from many on the left.
They complained that the project was overbudget by a significant amount, costing over $13 million rather than the $1.8 million President Trump previously promised.
“The huge spending increases suggest either incompetence or corruption in the project management,” says the letter.
They also claimed that some national parks will no longer have the necessary funding for maintenance.
“The President’s D.C. projects include a $5 million sole-source award to cover horse statues in nearly pure gold leaf and another $5 million sole-source award to repave the base of a marble statue,” said the senators.
The letter demands that Burgum respond by June 23 with information on what funding is actually being used on the various beautification projects, and details on all contracts awarded by the Department of the Interior for Washington, D.C. projects since December 1, 2025.
In a separate letter on June 15, King and other signatories opposed the proposed Triumphal Arch at Memorial Circle project, claiming that it is illegal because, in part, it has not received proper congressional approval, and because it will violate city height limits.
They also object because they think that it would “deface” the city’s skyline.
“Beyond its illegality, the Arch would deface one of the most deliberate and historic sightlines in America,” King’s letter said.
The uncharacteristic concern for fiscal responsibility displayed in King’s opposition to the beautification projects has been conspicuously absent from his repeated votes to send billions to Ukraine, and his advocacy for even more Ukraine support than has already been provided.
Angus, what are your thoughts on fraud?
Angus wanted to line the bottom of the pool with rubber bath mats made by a Chinese company that he owns stock in ……
SHUT UP ANGUS ……GO FIND A JOB FOR YOUR KID !
He ain’t getting to be governor !
King and your democratic friends have not passed any thing to help me or give me joy. You have only let fraudsters , thieves take my tax money you boob. You have let social security funds be taken to gain a few illegal votes. But then again you will get a separate pension as you are a Senator type that Plamnator speaks of; the rich who steal from the working people
Angus has apparently learned from Aaron Frey , the art of “ signing onto letters “ ……LMAO
Good Job Angus …..keep it up you slacker
No Kings
Scientist have discovered a new trigger for TDS. Doctors have discovered that the sight of algea can trigger severe cases of Trump Derangement Syndrone. Research has shown that algea will cause liberal heads to explode. They warn democrats to stay away from Washington DC and from the beach this summer.
Let’s go back in Obama years: The Obama administration did not need to seek specific congressional approval to repair the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The National Park Service (NPS) utilized existing funds allocated under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to execute the two-year, $34 million overhaul that was completed in 2012.
Because the project was a rehabilitation of an existing federal structure managed by the NPS rather than the creation of a new monument, it fell under routine park maintenance and agency-directed capital improvement processes. The work was subject to standard agency reviews but proceeded without requiring a new, specific legislative act
Mayve he lost his schwing while peddling the concourse as a young man?
They complained that the project was over-budget by a significant amount, costing over $13 million rather than the $1.8 million President Trump previously promised.
Here’s what I see as the main issue here for the over spending because those less than American presidents if you want to call them that Sh*t hard on the USA.
Between Obama and the Bribe ‘em administrations they both trashed this country’s landscape with illegals. First with unaccompanied children by Obama then shortly there after in the bribe em Administration came the adults with and without children. They left stray dogs to run around the boarder unattended.
Then came the trashing of the country, letting the reflecting pool become run down and DEI recipients screwed up any and all repairs that may have been attempted. Not knowing how to do the proper repairs nor how to fix the leaks.
The algae is a lack of proper ph, chlorine levels that could be fixed in about a week to 10 days by shocking the hell out of it followed by a good flocking then extra diatomaceous earth filters would clean that right up in no time. Without adding more water. Been there done that before many times fixing other people’s pool problems.
As far as the national park fees they absolutely should be used for these very projects.
Agnus and his fellow Democrats are just big babies because they didn’t think of cleaning up the trashed state of affairs left behind for others to either live in or clean up.
It’s possible I could be wrong about them liking the sight of a trashed country, the sight of squaller in and around the country. Import the third world get third world results. A trashed country in many ways including fraud.
In this case, I’m on board with the “no kings” movement.
My guess here is that the old paint on the bottom of the reflecting pools contain copper, and possibly lead and mercury — metals that kill, algae and molds.
The pools are only a foot or so deep, and stagnant. They are horrific breeding grounds from mosquitoes, to a point where this is not a pleasant place to be at night.
Yes, we have chemicals that will deal with this. I’d use copper sulfate personally, but Trump has to follow the rules on these sorts of things, and I suspect the EPA has banned that…
this fraud is a disgrace. puts the “D” in in-d-pendent.
King’s entire political career has been a lie
Angus is another deep state democrat, he was an awful governor and even worse politician. Idiots still vote for him, these criminals simply won’t go away. He said nothing when his master obama stole 34 millions dollars and did nothing to repair the pool. Time to retire angus, most people don’t care about your opinion.
How to tell when Maine’s Anus is lying?
He’s squinting when his lips are moving.
Was it false news the reports that two subjects were arrested for dumping a highly aggressive southern states algae into the reflecting pool? If so, why doesn’t that come into old Gus’ public statement.
We need MAINERS in Congress representing our state, not out of staters like Agnus here and his friends the Pinhead pingree family of idiots. These people are handpicked leftists originally brought here to forever change our state, our way of living and do nothing but snivel and whine when they dont get their way. Support the illegals instead of taxpaying Mainers, another feather of accomplishment in their caps. I want our entire state RED.
About as useful as tits on a lizard.