Following the recent change in administration, over 1,000 national park employees have been fired in an effort to reduce the federal workforce. The layoffs, led by Elon Musk and the new “Department of Government Efficiency,” follow President Trump’s “spending freeze,” aiming to reduce taxes. With 325 million yearly visitors across all 428 national parks, park staff are necessary to maintain and clean the parks, educate visitors, and protect natural resources.
“National parks were already short-staffed, with parks operating with 20% fewer staff than 2010,” Kristen Brengel, the senior member at the National Parks Conservation Association claimed in an interview with CNN. This was also prevalent throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, where the lack of staff and funding offered a glimpse of what’s to come. During the pandemic, most parks were not able to manage the influx of visitors. According to Beth Pratt, the California Director for the National Wildlife Federation in a report to CNN, “people were cutting down Joshua trees, they were driving in sensitive meadows, trash was everywhere, [and] graffiti.” Without rangers to properly oversee the parks, the quality of restoration is likely to plummet.
In a response to these forced terminations, many parks are limiting or closing facilities. In addition to a decline of the land protection, a decline in the park experience is also to be expected. Larger parks are considering discontinuing cultural resources, which aid the visitors interpretation and experience of the parks, while smaller parks may have to close their visitor centers altogether. This will not be the only closing either, many trails and campgrounds are likely to shut down, temporarily close, or shorten their days of access. This has already proven true throughout the US, the Effigy Mounds National Monument in Iowa announcing it would now close on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, similarly the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument in Colorado announced it would be closed Mondays and Tuesdays due to “a lack of staffing.” With less staff to maintain the facilities, less and less will be available for use as time goes on. All around the Nation, parks have reacted to change, leaving many concerned and unsure of the park’s futures.
In a time of both financial and political strain, parks are looking for support to ensure their continued protection, maintenance, and accessibility. While there are endless possibilities to show your support, some options are more accessible.
- Sign a Petition- The NPCA.
- Donating to Parks/Services- National Park Foundation or the National Forest Foundation.
- Volunteering- Any National Park.
