WASHINGTON � Staffing cuts at the National Park Service, where more than 1,700 full-time workers were forced out just before the start of the 2025 tourist season, may be one of the first real tests of public support for the Trump administration’s efforts to slash the federal workforce.
The impacts are already being seen at the 63 parks and 370 other sites managed and maintained by the Park Service: longer lines at entrances, reduced hours at visitor centers, canceled tours with park rangers and fewer trained staff to help with maintenance issues and emergencies.
kAmx?E6C:@C $64C6E2CJ s@F8 qFC8F> :D A=658:?8 E@ 255C6DD E96 AC@3=6> 3J 9:C:?8 36EH66? d[___ 2?5 f[f__ D62D@?2= H@C<6CD[ 3FE :?D:56CD D2J E96 8@2= H:== 36 5:77:4F=E E@ >66E 367@C6 9@C56D @7 G:D:E@CD 56D46?5 @? E96 A2C<D E9:D DAC:?8 2?5 DF>>6C]k^Am
kAm“q642FD6 :E 8@E DE2CE65 =2E6C E92? H@F=5 ?@C>2==J 36 E96 42D6 2?5 8:G6? E96 A2A6CH@C< AC@46DD:?8[ 324<8C@F?5 4964<D 7@C D@>6[ EC2:?:?8[ 9@FD:?8[ 6E4][ x E9:?< :E :D =:<6=J E92E E96C6 H:== 36 D@>6 56=2J 86EE:?8 2== @7 E96> @? 3@2C5 :? A2C<D 367@C6 E96 368:??:?8 @7 E96 �3FDJ� D62D@?[� D2:5 q:== (256[ 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C @7 E96 pDD@4:2E:@? @7 }2E:@?2= !2C< #2?86CD]k^Am
kAm%96 !2C< $6CG:46 ?@C>2==J 92D 23@FE a_[___ 7F==\E:>6 2?5 D62D@?2= 6>A=@J66D[ 3FE E9@D6 ?F>36CD H6C6 C65F465 :? E96 A2DE D:I H66<D 3J E96 7:C:?8D @7 23@FE `[___ AC@32E:@?2CJ 6>A=@J66D 2?5 3FJ@FED E2<6? 3J 23@FE f__ @E96C 7F==\E:>6 6>A=@J66D] %96 %CF>A 25>:?:DEC2E:@? 2=D@ H:E95C6H @776CD E@ 23@FE d[___ D62D@?2= H@C<6CD H9@ 925 366? =:?65 FA 3J E96 q:56? 25>:?:DEC2E:@?]k^Am
kAmtG6? :7 E9@FD2?5D @7 D62D@?2= H@C<6CD 2C6 9:C65 D@@?[ :E H:== 36 5:77:4F=E 7@C E96> E@ 5@ E96:C ;@3D H:E9@FE 2 7F== 4@>A=6>6?E @7 >2?286CD 2E 2== E96 A2C<D[ D2:5 y@9? v2C56C[ D6?:@C 5:C64E@C @7 3F586E 2?5 2AAC@AC:2E:@?D 7@C E96 }2E:@?2= !2C<D r@?D6CG2E:@? pDD@4:2E:@?[ 2? @C82?:K2E:@? H:E9 >@C6 E92? `]e >:==:@? >6>36CD H9@ DFAA@CE E96 A2C<D]k^Am
kAm“~FC D6?D6 :D E92E E96J’C6 ?@E BF:E6 8@:?8 E@ 36 AC6A2C65 2?5 2C6 ;FDE 8@:?8 E@ C6D:8? E96>D6=G6D E@ 92G6 =@?86C =:?6D[ H9:49 H6’C6 2=C625J D66:?8[� v2C56C D2:5]k^Am
kAmr@?8C6DD:@?2= #6AF3=:42?D @G6CD66:?8 E96 !2C< $6CG:46 2C6 4@?7:56?E qFC8F> 42? 3C:?8 @? DF77:4:6?E DE277 E@ <66A E9:?8D D276 2?5 6?;@J23=6 7@C G:D:E@CD[ @7 H9@> E96C6 H6C6 >@C6 E92? bb_ >:==:@? =2DE J62C]k^Am
kAmâ€�$64C6E2CJ qFC8F> 92D 2=C625J 2??@F?465 E92E D62D@?2= 6>A=@J66D 2C6 ?@E :>A24E65 3J E96 9:C:?8 7C66K6[â€� D2:5 #6A] #J2? +:?<6[ #\|@?E][ 2 7@C>6C x?E6C:@C D64C6E2CJ H9@ :D 2 >6>36C @7 E96 w@FD6 x?E6C:@C\t?G:C@?>6?E pAAC@AC:2E:@?D $F34@>>:EE66] “p44@C5:?8 E@ E96 A2C< DFA6C:?E6?56?ED x’G6 DA@<6? E@[ E96J 2C6 7F==J AC6A2C65 7@C 2 DF446DD7F= G:D:E@C D62D@?]â€k^Am
kAm{6256CD @7 E96 w@FD6 2?5 $6?2E6 DF34@>>:EE66D @? ?2E:@?2= A2C<D[ #6A] %@> %:772?J[ #\(:D][ 2?5 $6?] $E6G6 s2:?6D[ #\|@?E][ @776C65 D:>:=2C 2DDFC2?46D :? 6>2:= C6DA@?D6D E@ r" #@== r2==]k^Am
kAm“~FC ?2E:@?2= A2C<D 2C6 E96 4C@H? ;6H6=D @7 E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D[ 2?5 H:E9 2 3FDJ G:D:E@C D62D@? 4@>:?8 FA[ x 2AA=2F5 $64C6E2CJ qFC8F> 7@C 2??@F?4:?8 d[___ D62D@?2= ;@3 @A6?:?8D E@ 96=A @FC A2C<D 244@>>@52E6 G:D:E@CD 7C@> 72C 2?5 H:56[� s2:?6D D2:5]k^Am
k9cm$@F?5:?8 E96 2=2C>k^9cm
kAm%@A s6>@4C2ED @? E96 DF34@>>:EE66D 2C6 72C >@C6 4@?46C?65]k^Am
kAm�%96 52>286 E9:D p5>:?:DEC2E:@? :D :?7=:4E:?8 @? E96 }2E:@?2= !2C< $6CG:46 42??@E 36 @G6CDE2E65[� D2:5 #6A] r96==:6 !:?8C66[ s\|2:?6[ E96 C2?<:?8 >6>36C @7 E96 x?E6C:@C\t?G:C@?>6?E pAAC@AC:2E:@?D A2?6=]k^Am
kAm“}62C=J c >:==:@? A6@A=6 G:D:E65 p425:2 }2E:@?2= !2C< :? a_ac 2=@?6[â€� !:?8C66 D2:5] â€�(:E9@FE 256BF2E6 DE277:?8 â€� 3@E9 D62D@?2= 2?5 7F==\E:>6 â€� p425:2 2?5 ?2E:@?2= A2C<D 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ H:== 7246 D6C:@FD 4@?D6BF6?46Di DEC2:?65 E@FC:D> 64@?@>:6D[ H62<6?65 4@?D6CG2E:@? 677@CED[ 2?5 2 5:>:?:D965 G:D:E@C 6IA6C:6?46 E92E ;6@A2C5:K6D 3@E9 D276EJ 2?5 A2C< >2:?E6?2?46]â€k^Am
kAm“x =65 >J 4@==628F6D E@ D@F?5 E96 2=2C> 23@FE E96 E@E2==J AC6G6?E23=6 DE277:?8 D9@CE72== 2E E96 }2E:@?2= !2C< $6CG:46 E92E H:== =625 E@ D9FEE6C65 G:D:E@C 46?E6CD[ 52?86C@FD=J D=@H 6>6C86?4J C6DA@?D6 E:>6D[ 5:CEJ 724:=:E:6D[ 2?5 6G6? A2C< 4=@DFC6D — F?=6DD s@?2=5 %CF>A 2?5 ,s6A2CE>6?E @7 v@G6C?>6?E t77:4:6?4J =6256C t=@?. |FD<’D DE277:?8 4FED 2C6 C6G6CD65[” D2:5 $6?] y677 |6C<=6J[ s\~C6][ C2?<:?8 >6>36C @7 E96 $6?2E6 x?E6C:@C\t?G:C@?>6?E pAAC@AC:2E:@?D $F34@>>:EE66]k^Am
kAm�%96D6 4FED ?@E @?=J E9C62E6? D276 2446DD E@ A2C<D :? E96 FA4@>:?8 DAC:?8 3C62< 2?5 DF>>6C D62D@?D 3FE H:== 2=D@ C6DF=E :? =@?8\E6C> 52>286 E@ E96 }!$ 5F6 E@ E96 7:C:?8 @7 D<:==65 A@D:E:@?D =:<6 A=F>36CD[ 6?8:?66CD[ 64@=@8:DED[ 2?5 7:C67:89E6CD[� |6C<=6J D2:5]k^Am
kAm$6?] #F36? v2==68@[ s\pC:K][ 2 >6>36C @7 E96 $6?2E6 t?6C8J 2?5 }2EFC2= #6D@FC46D $F34@>>:EE66 @? }2E:@?2= !2C<D[ D2:5 :>A24ED 2C6 2=C625J 36:?8 D66? 2E E96 ac !2C< $6CG:46 F?:ED :? 9:D DE2E6[ :?4=F5:?8 $28F2C@ }2E:@?2= !2C< ?62C %F4D@?[ H96C6 E96 EH@ G:D:E@C 46?E6CD 2C6 ?@H 4=@D65 @? |@?52JD]k^Am
kAm“x 2> 566A=J 4@?46C?65 3J E96 C6A@CED H6’C6 D66:?8 @FE @7 pC:K@?2’D A2C<D â€� 4=@D65 G:D:E@C 46?E6CD[ =@?86C =:?6D[ 2?5 4C:E:42= :?7C2DECF4EFC6 AC@;64ED 56=2J65[â€� v2==68@ D2:5] â€�(:E9 DAC:?8 3C62< C:89E 2C@F?5 E96 4@C?6C[ xâ€�> H@CC:65 }!$ H@?’E 36 23=6 E@ >66E E96 56>2?5] x? E96 pC:K@?2 56D6CE[ E92E :D?’E ;FDE :?4@?G6?:6?E[ :E’D 52?86C@FD]â€k^Am
kAms6>@4C2E:4 #6A] q6EEJ |4r@==F> @7 |:??6D@E2 2?5 $6?D] z:CDE6? v:==:3C2?5 @7 }6H *@C< 2?5 |2K:6 z] w:C@?@ @7 w2H2::[ 2== @? A2?6=D H:E9 !2C< $6CG:46 @G6CD:89E[ 6IAC6DD65 D:>:=2C 4@?46C?D]k^Am
kAm�%96 D9@CE\D:89E65 564:D:@? 3J s~vt E@ 7:C6 !2C< #2?86CD 2?5 @E96C DE277 F?56C 72=D6 AC6E6?D6D 92D 4C62E65 2 D:EF2E:@? :? H9:49 @FC }2E:@?2= !2C<D H:== ?@E 92G6 E96 A6CD@??6= ?646DD2CJ E@ AC@G:56 E96 D6CG:46D E92E G:D:E@CD 92G6 4@>6 E@ 6IA64E[� |4r@==F> D2:5]k^Am
kAm“xE :D 6DD6?E:2= E92E E96C6 :D 3:A2CE:D2? DFAA@CE 2?5 4@@A6C2E:@? 7@C 6?DFC:?8 }!$ 92D H92E :E ?665D E@ <66A G:D:E@CD D276[ AC@E64E @FC 6?G:C@?>6?E[ 2?5 >2:?E2:? E96D6 ?2E:@?2= EC62DFC6D[� v:==:3C2?5 D2:5]k^Am
k9cmuF?5:?8 :DDF6Dk^9cm
kAmr@?8C6DD 7246D 564:D:@?D E92E H:== 27764E A2C< @A6C2E:@?D E9:D D62D@? 2?5 7@C J62CD E@ 4@>6]k^Am
kAm%96 4@?E:?F:?8 C6D@=FE:@? 7@C E96 C6DE @7 7:D42= a_ad F?G6:=65 3J w@FD6 #6AF3=:42?D @G6C E96 H66<6?5 <66AD E96 !2C< $6CG:46 @A6C2E:@?D 3F586E 2E Sb]b 3:==:@?[ E96 D2>6 =6G6= 2D 7:D42= a_ac] x7 =2H>2<6CD 42?’E 28C66 3J uC:52J @? 2 ?6H r#[ 2 A2CE:2= 8@G6C?>6?E D9FE5@H? 4@F=5 368:? E9:D H66<6?5[ H9:49 4@F=5 92G6 5:C6 4@?D6BF6?46D 7@C E96 ?2E:@?2= A2C<D] p >@?E9=@?8 D9FE5@H? E92E DE2CE65 :? =2E6 a_`g =65 E@ 4=@DFC6D 2?5 G2?52=:D> :? F?2EE6?565 A2C<D[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 56DECF4E:@? @7 :4@?:4 EC66D :? r2=:7@C?:2’D y@D9F2 %C66 }2E:@?2= !2C<]k^Am
kAm%96 vC62E p>6C:42? ~FE5@@CD p4E[ H9:49 %CF>A D:8?65 :? a_a_ E@ AC@G:56 S`]b 3:==:@? 2??F2==J E@ 96=A E96 !2C< $6CG:46 42E49 FA @? >@C6 E92? Sa_ 3:==:@? :? 5676CC65 >2:?E6?2?46 AC@;64ED[ 6IA:C6D E9:D J62C] |@DE @7 E96 <6J =2H>2<6CD DFCG6J65 7@C E9:D DE@CJ D2:5 E96J H@F=5 DFAA@CE 2 ?6H 3:== E@ 6IE6?5 @C 6IA2?5 E92E =@?8\E6C> 7F?5:?8]k^Am
kAmx? E96 >62?E:>6[ A2C< 25G@42E6D 2C6 ?6CG@FD=J 2H2:E:?8 E96 DE2CE @7 E96 3FDJ D62D@?[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 }2E:@?2= r96CCJ q=@DD@> u6DE:G2= 7C@> |2C49 a_ E@ pAC:= `b E92E 2??F2==J 5C2HD >@C6 E92? `]d >:==:@? G:D:E@CD E@ E96 }2E:@?2= |2== :? (2D9:?8E@?]k^Am
kAmâ€�%96D6 2C6 9F86 64@?@>:4 5C:G6CD[â€� D2:5 v2C56C @7 E96 }2E:@?2= !2C<D r@?D6CG2E:@? pDD@4:2E:@?] â€�!6@A=6 =@G6 E96D6 A=246D] *@F 42?’E @A6C2E6 A2C<D H:E9@FE E96D6 H@C<6CD] xâ€�> E9:?<:?8 E92E :7 2== @7 E9:D 8@6D D@FE9[ E96 AF3=:4 @FE4CJ :D 8@:?8 E@ 36 :?4C65:3=6[ >2?] w@A67F==J[ >2J36[ $64C6E2CJ qFC8F> C62=:K6D E92E]â€k^Am