House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) wrote to National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis demanding information about why the memorial was closed.

“The Committee is concerned with NPS’s allocation of resources during this time of lapsed funding,” Issa and Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.), the chairman of the subcommittee on government operations, wrote. “Our concerns are heightened due to NPS’s suspicious decisions during the lead-up to the sequester.” …

“Information presented to the Committee suggested budget adjustments resulting in obvious hardship or displeasure for the public were chosen in lieu of more prudent measures. Specifically, the Committee received information that proposed budget adjustments submitted by an NPS official in the field to deal with sequestration impacts were rejected by NPS superiors in favor of cuts that would be more visible and disruptive,” the lawmakers wrote.