An appropriations bill for the Interior Department adopted by the House of Representatives was applauded by one Republican as one way to "reduce bureaucracy and promote regulatory certainty," but national park advocates said it would do serious damage to the National Park System if it passes Congress as currently written.

"Bear in mind that a 1 percent cut to park operations may not to the average person look like much," said John Garder of the National Parks Conservation Association, referring to the House budget as passed by the chamber. "But in fact it is. For one, this would be on top of absorbing now more than $30 million in fixed/uncontrollable cost increases. And this does not allow for costs associated with a huge increase in visitation. Add to that the operating costs associated with the storms. So it is another cut on top of budgets that have been bare, so matters just get worse than a 1 percent figure can show."

But U.S. Rep. Rob Bishop, who chairs the House Natural Resources Committee, applauded the measure. Along with saying it would reduce bureaucracy, the Republican from Utah pointed out language that prohibited the use of federal funds to list the sage-grouse as an endangered, not threatened, species, and a provision that would remove the gray wolf from the Endangered Species List entirely.

Mr. Garder, NPCA's fiscal analyst, said the bill called for $2.4 billion for park operations. While that's an increase from President Trump's $2.2 billion proposal, it's down 1 percent from FY2017 funding of $2.42 billion, he said.

The Park Service's construction budget would see a 5 percent increase, from $209.35 million to $219.84 million, according to NPCA's figures. But the Land and Water Conservation Fund would be cut 26 percent, to $120.6 million, down from $162 million in the current fiscal year.

Also taking a large hit was the budget for National Park Partnerships, dropping 25 percent in the House measure, from $20 million to $15 million, said NPCA. Historic preservation funding would be cut 8 percent, to $74.4 million, down from $80.9 million.

“The House today failed to meet its responsibility to help care for America's favorite places. To pass a spending bill that cuts funding to national park operations would only further challenge the Park Service’s ability to make necessary repairs to park buildings and trails, protect wildlife, preserve our history and provide the best visitor experience," said Mr. Garder. 

“Adding insult to injury with poison-pill amendments, the bill threatens our park air, water and wildlife by reducing specific protections for marine, California and Alaska wildlife, removing safeguards that protect the Chesapeake Bay watershed and preventing efforts to curb harmful methane and ozone waste," he added. "The Senate—and a final spending bill for the year—must do better and add to, rather than take away from these special, irreplaceable places all Americans should enjoy.”