A conservative government watchdog group, Protect the Public’s Trust, has accused the Biden administration of failing to protect federal property from vandalism and destruction at the hands of left-wing protesters during demonstrations against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress.
In a letter sent to the DOI Inspector General, Michael Chamberlain, the group’s director, highlighted several instances of protests that escalated into property damage and violence. The most prominent examples occurred in June and July 2024, during protests targeting the Israeli Prime Minister’s visit.
Protesters vandalized federal properties in Washington, D.C., including the Christopher Columbus Memorial Fountain at Union Station. They burned federal property, engaged in clashes with police, and even assaulted bystanders. Chamberlain expressed concern about the DOI’s handling of these incidents, questioning whether the department’s inaction stemmed from negligence or a political bias toward the protesters’ cause. He pointed to several instances of ethical violations within the department, raising further suspicion about the DOI’s motives.
The letter criticizes the National Park Service (NPS) for failing to enforce the law and maintain order during the protests. Chamberlain argues that the NPS, charged with protecting historical and cultural symbols, allowed these key national treasures to be defaced and destroyed.
He further blames the NPS’s failure to enforce demonstration permit conditions and adequately resource the United States Park Police (USPP) for the escalating violence. The letter demands an immediate investigation into these failures, specifically probing whether political considerations influenced the NPS’s inaction.
This isn’t the first time the DOI has faced criticism from Republicans regarding its handling of protests. In June 2024, Senator John Barrasso, the top Republican on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, demanded answers from Secretary Haaland about the DOI’s response to violent protests outside the White House.
Barrasso questioned the lack of arrests and demanded explicit measures to protect park rangers on duty. Despite the chaos, no arrests were made, and one individual who scaled a statue managed to escape from law enforcement custody. Statuary honoring French figures, the Comte de Rochambeau and Marquis de Lafayette, were vandalized during these protests, ironically occurring while President Biden was on an official visit to France.
Protect the Public’s Trust has also previously criticized the DOI for allocating $120 million to tribal governments to combat climate change. While the DOI declined to comment on these accusations, this escalating controversy highlights the increasing scrutiny surrounding the department’s handling of protests and its potential political bias.
