Gov. Kristi Noem Pushes Back Against Biden Administration, Asks President To Allow Fireworks At Mount Rushmore

On Tuesday, Republican Governor of South Dakota Kristi Noem sent a letter to President Biden requesting that he alter his administration’s current prohibition of a fireworks celebration on Independence Day at Mount Rushmore.

Fox News reported that the federal government agreed to allow fireworks to be held at the area last year, but the decision of the Biden administration would reverse that. Noem’s letter referenced a Memorandum of Agreement that had been made with the state to allow fireworks to return to celebrations at Mount Rushmore National Memorial “in a safe and responsible manner.” However, as Noem’s letter explains, the National Park Service (NPS) told the governor last month that it “would be reneging” on the Memorandum of Agreement, citing several concerns.