The Interior Department seal (AP/Molly Riley)
"By significantly increasing participation over the past 10 years, local communities, independently-owned businesses and manufacturers have directly benefited from increased spending."
RBFF said American anglers contribute nearly $150 billion in economic output and 1 million jobs nationwide.
"In fact, we know that fishing produces $1,500 in commerce per participant per year – a figure that drives economic activity in every state in the union," the organization said.
"We are wholly funded via a competitive grant that is awarded through the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service via the Sport Fish Restoration excise tax, and our organization is supported by state fish and wildlife agencies, as well as industry manufacturers and retailers from Alaska to Florida."
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Ernst was not convinced, telling Fox News Digital that "Washington fell hook, line, and sinker into padding the pockets of overpriced recreational consultants."
She quipped that "special interests" should instead be told "to ‘go fish.’"
"The Department of Interior needs to claw back the remaining $650,000 and tell these consultants that there are other fish in the sea."
Fox News Digital also reached out to the Interior Department for further comment on the grant, which preceded the current agency leadership.
Charles Creitz is a reporter for Fox News Digital.
He joined Fox News in 2013 as a writer and production assistant.
Charles covers media, politics and culture for Fox News Digital.
Charles is a Pennsylvania native and graduated from Temple University with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism. Story tips can be sent to charles.creitz@fox.com.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/doge-senator-claims-fishing-group-big-grant-salaries-nonprofit-aid