GOP rep dodges questions about national park campsites

CNN host Briana Keilar interviewed Rep. Kevin Kiley, a Republican from California, about staffing issues at national parks in his district. Kiley's district includes popular areas like Lake Tahoe and Death Valley. During the interview, Keilar referred to a New York Times report that nearly 4,000 campsites in California's national forests might close this summer. She asked Kiley how many of those campsites are in his district. Kiley avoided the question and focused on praising the natural beauty of his area. Kiley mentioned he had sent a letter to the White House about staffing needs for national parks. However, he did not provide specific information about the letter or its response. Keilar continued to press him for answers, questioning whether he knew the number of campsites and if he had heard back from the White House. Their exchange grew tense, with both speaking over each other. Kiley acknowledged that there are many campsites in his district, but he still did not answer Keilar's questions directly. He again shifted the conversation to Lake Tahoe, prompting Keilar to ask, "Should I take that as a no?" Eventually, Kiley stated that the administration is committed to ensuring adequate staffing for the parks. However, he did not clarify whether he had received a response to his letter.