I won’t lie. This is painful news for me to share.

Donald Trump unveiled a budget plan that cuts $5 billion from the Department of the Interior, including over $1 billion from the National Park Service.

If enacted, this would represent the largest cut in the Park Service’s 109-year history.

It’s tough to wrap your head around the scale of these cuts. But I can tell you from my time at Interior that this would cause a ripple effect – one that endangers our beloved public lands, the dedicated public servants who steward them, and the millions of Americans who visit our national parks each year.

My tenure as Interior Secretary may be over, but my sense of duty to protect our public lands has never left me.

Somáh and I taking in the breathtaking landscapes of Canyon de Chelly National Park.

I had so many opportunities to be on our public lands when I was growing up, and I will fight like hell to protect that same possibility for every child.

When Somáh was 10 years old, we hiked Canyon de Chelly National Monument together. Identifying the trees, flowers, and animals brought our spirits closer to that beautiful landscape. Looking out over the towering sandstone mesas and lush green blanket of desert shrubs, we imagined that we stood where our ancestors had.

Our public lands embody who we are as a country. They belong to every American. They represent freedom and openness, deliver fresh air to breathe, and help us connect with the lands and waters that give us everything. As Donald Trump and Elon Musk prepare to exploit our lands, waters, and forests and the people who care for them, it’s up to each of us to make sure these irreplaceable wonders stay protected.

Governors across the country will be the first line of defense against these brazen attacks on our public lands. Will you rush a $5 donation to our campaign so we can win this race and protect our beloved public lands for future generations?

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Trump’s announcement has come at the exact moment that families across our country prepare to take trips to visit our national parks, wildlife refuges, and public lands. We’re entering peak visitation season, which begs the question:

• Who will be around to manage our national parks?
• Who will empty the trash cans and make sure that trails are safe?
• Who will track the wildlife, test our waters, and do all the things that we know are so important to our public lands?

Our public lands belong to all of us. We must treat this moment as an urgent call to action to stand up for the landscapes and future our children will inherit.

Will you make your first-ever $5 contribution to our campaign so we can win this race and protect our public lands? As governor, I’ll be a fierce defender of our rivers, mesas, farmlands, and forests, but I can’t win without your support.

Yours in the fight,

Deb