'Salute to America' or NAGPRA? The Donald Trump 'show' takes priority

Wednesday, July 3, 2019  

For the last two years, President Donald Trump has sought to completely eliminate funding for the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act to the tune of about $1.6 million.

"The FY 2020 President’s Budget request does not propose funding for National Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act," the budget justification for the National Park Service reads. Similar language was employed by the Trump administration in the fiscal year 2019 request.

But even though Congress has stepped in to restore the funds, Trump is still willing to raid the NPS budget for his own "show." According to The Washington Post, some $2.5 million from the agency -- where the National NAGPRA Program is housed -- has been diverted to his "Salute to America" event that is taking place on public property in the nation's capital on the Fourth of July.

"Our July 4th Salute to America at the Lincoln Memorial is looking to be really big. It will be the show of a lifetime!" Trump said in a post on social media on Wednesday morning.

The NPS is part of the Department of the Interior, the federal agency with the most responsibilities in Indian Country. It also happens to be the lead entity on the "Salute to America" event on the National Mall, military tanks and all.

Found ‘em! 5 military tanks on train tracks in southeast DC for the 4th of July celebrations pic.twitter.com/Nv8aTgR0no

— Elizabeth Landers (@ElizLanders) July 2, 2019

"#Salute2America is expected to be the longest firework display in the history of our nation’s capital," Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt wrote in a post on social media on Tuesday. "I look forward to celebrating the birth of our nation with everyone in a spectacular fashion."

Trump has taken a strong interest in the event and has received regular briefings from Bernhardt about it, according to news reports. But the entire cost, expected to be far more than $2.5 million, has been kept from the public even as the Secretary has repeatedly touted the "increased access" that Americans will enjoy on the nation's birthday.

Trump is far from the first president to diminish the NAGPRA program, established by the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990 in order to return American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian ancestors and artifacts to their rightful places. Republican and Democratic administrations alike have raided the budget and diverted the funds for other purposes.

The NAGPRA grants are used by tribes, museums, educational institutions and other partners to help repatriate cultural property. Last September, the NPS awarded nearly $1.7 million to fund those efforts.

"Through these grants the National Park Service works with tribes, museums, and partners to facilitate the return of sacred objects and ancestral remains to native peoples," NPS Deputy Director P. Daniel Smith said in a press release at the time.

The "minibus" appropriations bill that funds the NPS for fiscal year 2020 blocks Trump's NAGPRA funding cut. It also calls for a slight increase to the program.

"The Committee recommends $1,907,000 for Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Grants, an increase of $250,000 above the enacted level and $1,907,000 above the budget request," the report issued by the House Committee on Appropriations reads.

The Democratic-controlled U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R.3055 by a vote of 227 to 194 on June 25. The bill's fate in the U.S. Senate, which is in Republican hands, remains uncertain.

Park Service diverts $2.5 million in fees for Trump’s July Fourth extravaganza (The Washington Post July 2, 2019)
Trump says tanks will be part of his July Fourth celebration (The Associated Press July 2, 2019)
Tanks Already in Washington for Trump’s Fourth of July Event (The New York Times July 2, 2019)
Trump asks for tanks, Marine One and much more for grandiose July Fourth event (The Washington Post July 1, 2019)