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.