In today’s Washington Times, Stephen Dinan reports that the U.S. Forest Service will spend $2.8 million in forest-fire-fighting money in Washington D.C. – a city with no national forests. Click here to read the article: Forest Fire Funds Aid D.C. Festivals

As the West continues to battle catastrophic wildfires that have taken lives, homes and businesses, it is outrageous that the Forest Service is using these funds for “park festivals” in D.C.

The article also highlights the efforts of House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Doc Hastings to keep the U.S. Forest Service accountable regarding its stimulus spending:

“Earlier this year, Rep. Doc Hastings of Washington, the top Republican on the House Natural Resources Committee, sent a letter asking why the agency was sending money to states with no Forest Service land. Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts and Rhode Island all received money, even though they don't have any national forests.

Mr. Hastings pointed to the wildfires raging in the West and asked for an accounting of how those decisions were made, and how many jobs have been created by the spending. His office said he has not received a response.”