The Trump administration has recently dismissed approximately 1,000 newly hired employees from the National Park Service (NPS), raising alarm about potential consequences for park maintenance and visitor services. These firings were confirmed by Democratic senators and House members, but were not publicly announced.
This decision is part of a broader initiative led by billionaire Elon Musk and the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which aims to cut down federal spending by eliminating thousands of jobs. The NPS also announced the reinstatement of about 5,000 seasonal positions that had been rescinded during a spending freeze imposed by President Trump.
Seasonal workers, who are typically added during peak visitor months, play a vital role in maintaining the nation’s 428 parks, which welcome over 325 million visitors annually. Advocates for national parks are expressing growing concern that these permanent staff cuts will leave many parks critically understaffed, threatening public safety and resource protection.
Kristen Brengel, senior vice president of government affairs at the National Parks Conservation Association, warned that reduced staff could lead to shorter visitor center hours, closed campgrounds, and delayed maintenance tasks. “Fewer staff means shorter visitor center hours, delayed openings and closed campgrounds,” she stated. Brengel added that issues like uncollected trash and unclean restrooms could become commonplace, along with diminished guided tours and potential risks to public safety.
Democrats on the House and Senate Appropriations Committees have echoed these concerns, highlighting the inefficiency of indiscriminate layoffs that jeopardize essential services across various states. “There is nothing ‘efficient’ about indiscriminately firing thousands upon thousands of workers,” said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. She criticized both Trump and Musk for their actions, implying that they are undermining the functions of government.
Notably, staff reductions have resulted in severe cuts at key parks. At Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, 16 of 17 supervisory positions were eliminated, leaving just one individual to manage dozens of seasonal employees. Similarly, at Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, the layoffs of fee collectors and trail maintenance workers could hinder trail accessibility after heavy rainfall.
The cuts also threaten to disrupt ongoing initiatives such as the Great American Outdoors Act, which aims to address a significant maintenance backlog in national parks. Before confirming the cuts, Democratic senators noted that this could lead to chaos in park staffing, while warning that an overwhelming number of early retirements or terminations could lead to park closures and diminished visitor services.
The impact of these firings is expected to resonate not only within the parks but also in nearby communities that rely heavily on tourism. Democratic lawmakers pointed out that park visitors supported an estimated 415,000 jobs and generated $55.6 billion in economic activity in 2023.
