Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke testifies before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources during a committee hearing on the President's Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2019, Tuesday, March 13, 2018, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) - Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke has bristled under questioning by Democrats about his spending on travel as the Trump administration seeks deep cuts to conservation programs and fee increases at national parks.
Zinke testified about the White House's proposed 2019 budget before a Senate committee Tuesday. The former Navy SEAL flashed with anger when Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington pressed him on whether he could justify hiking park entry fees after spending taxpayer money on private jet flights.
Zinke said he resented the senator's question, which he called insulting and misleading. He said the three flights he took on private planes were all on aircraft driven by propellers, not jet engines.
Zinke has proposed sharply hiking entry fees during peak seasons at some of the nation's most popular national parks.
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke testifies before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources during a committee hearing on the President's Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2019, Tuesday, March 13, 2018, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
The Associated Press
Attendees of a Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources committee hearing wear t-shirts protesting Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, as he testifies before the committee about the President's Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2019, Tuesday, March 13, 2018, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
The Associated Press
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke arrives to testify before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources at a committee hearing on the President's Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2019, Tuesday, March 13, 2018, on Capitol Hill in Washington. At right is Olivia Barton Ferriter, with the Interior Department. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
The Associated Press
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke testifies before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources during a committee hearing on the President's Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2019, Tuesday, March 13, 2018, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
The Associated Press