“Losing a quarter of the Park Service’s permanent workforce has made it nearly impossible for some parks to operate safely or effectively. And sadly, this is just the beginning." - Theresa Pierno, NPCA's President and CEO
Washington, D.C. – For months, the Trump administration has ordered national parks to stay open and accessible while slashing National Park Service staffing, delaying seasonal hiring and pushing remaining staff to their limits. The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) warned that the administration’s actions would put park resources and public safety at risk. And a newly surfaced internal Park Service report from July 2025, first reported by the New York Times, confirms those fears. National parks across the country are reaching a breaking point: staff are overwhelmed, conditions are deteriorating, and visitors are being left without the services or protections they count on.
In response to Secretary’s Order 3426, “Ensuring National Parks Are Open and Accessible,” every park unit was required to update their operational status by July 25th. While not all parks submitted data by July 2025, the information included revealed widespread impacts due to staffing cuts. Ninety national parks reported staffing impacts over the last several months: Nearly 70 parks reduced visitor center hours or visitor services, 22 parks postponed maintenance, and 11 closed or delayed the opening of facilities.
It’s clear staffing shortages are directly impacting park operations across the system. Parks like Joshua Tree and Yosemite are struggling with search and rescue, law enforcement and even basic medical services, while some parks have no maintenance staff at all. Seasonal roads, trails and campgrounds like those at Sequoia & Kings Canyon remain closed due to unaddressed damage. And in remote parks like Cumberland Island, current hiring freezes are limiting the park’s ability to prepare for and respond to urgent needs.
Years of understaffing and underfunding had already forced many parks to scale back visitor center hours and visitor services. The administration’s severe staffing cuts and new policies have made a bad situation worse. Since January, the Park Service has lost a staggering 24% of its permanent staff. The administration is also lagging on its pledge to hire nearly 8,000 seasonal staff, with just over half of those positions filled so far, leaving parks dangerously short on rangers, maintenance crews and emergency responders.
Facing severe staffing shortages including several critical vacancies, many park managers are being forced to make difficult decisions to protect park resources and visitors, including:
- The fire management team is down to one person at Cumberland Island National Seashore in Georgia, limiting fire response efforts. The vacant boat captain position has halted barge operations, preventing trash and construction debris removal. The lack of fee and visitor center staff have affected reservations, permits, and front-line visitor service, with no rangers to greet incoming ferries or provide visitor safety orientation.
- Due to delays in contracts and seasonal hiring, Gateway National Recreation Area in New Jersey and New York reduced lifeguarded beach coverage, putting visitor safety at risk.
- Zion National Park in Utah closed multiple fee stations, creating longer wait times at entry points. Emergency response is slower, water testing is delayed, and essential health, safety and maintenance inspections are limited. Reductions have jeopardized public safety, strained local emergency services and impacted fee revenue.
- Multiple vacant permanent seasonal fee positions at Acadia National Park in Maine forced the parks to reduce staffing at entrance stations and other fee collection points, resulting in longer wait times and reduced operating hours.
- Blue Ridge Parkway was forced to close its Rocky Knob Visitor Center in Virginia for the 2025 season due to staffing shortages, cutting off vital visitor services.
- The Buffalo National River in Arkansas scaled back visitor services across the board with reduced hours at its entrance station and main visitor center. Ranger-led tours and school programming were also canceled.
- Visitor center and ranger station hours have been reduced at Denali National Park in Alaska. Additionally, the park’s field camp and science school sessions have been significantly scaled back or completely cancelled.
- At times, entrance stations at Glacier National Park in Montana have gone unstaffed during normal hours, impacting recreation fee revenue that the park relies on to pay staff and visitor services.
The Park Service’s operational status database from July 2025 is available here. This information reflects submissions from national park units that reported facility closures and staffing challenges. Not all parks provided information on visitor service impacts, but NPCA knows the staffing issues extend beyond what’s captured in this snapshot.
Statement by Theresa Pierno, President and CEO for the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA):
“This crisis was both predictable and preventable. Gutting staff, freezing seasonal hiring, and pushing out experienced rangers was a recipe for disaster. NPCA has been sounding the alarm for months, and now we’re seeing the consequences of the administration’s reckless actions play out across the country. Parks are cutting hours, closing visitor centers and struggling to respond to emergencies simply because there aren’t enough staff.
“This latest report shows just how widespread the impacts have been. Blue Ridge Parkway and Buffalo National River had to close their visitor centers. Denali National Park canceled summer camps and school science programs. Gateway National Recreation Area reduced lifeguard coverage on its beaches. From coast to coast, visitor services are unraveling. Entrance stations sit empty without staff managing traffic, leading to long lines and lost revenue. Emergency response and visitor safety are in jeopardy in many parks. And for millions of visitors, the park experience is eroding.
“Losing a quarter of the Park Service’s permanent workforce has made it nearly impossible for some parks to operate safely or effectively. And sadly, this is just the beginning. Unless the administration reverses course the strain on our parks and park staff will only get worse.
“Everyday Congress and the administration delay action, the risks grow for visitors, staff and the irreplaceable places we all love. NPCA is calling on Congress to act now before this crisis spirals further out of control. Congress must stop the erosion of America’s national parks by ending the hiring freeze, filling every vacant position and rejecting any system-wide staffing cuts. The Senate Appropriations Committee’s current funding bill takes a strong step in that direction. It’s time to get it across the finish line. Our parks and the millions of people who depend on them can’t wait any longer.”
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About the National Parks Conservation Association: Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its more than 1.6 million members and supporters work together to protect and preserve our nation’s most iconic and inspirational places for future generations. For more information, visit www.npca.org
