“A cut this massive would be catastrophic. This proposal would only accelerate the damage, putting our national parks at even greater risk and further cut the park staffing that is needed to care for our national treasures." John Garder, NPCA's Sr. Budget & Appropriations Director
Washington, DC – The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) is once again raising concerns over a new round of devastating proposed budget cuts for our national parks. The Trump Administration today released its 2027 budget proposal, which like last year’s, would gut the National Park Service, threatening the protection, maintenance and operation of more than 430 national parks nationwide. The proposal makes sweeping cuts across the Park Service budget, including a $736 million reduction (over 25%) to park operations, likely eliminating thousands more park staff after a year of severe losses.
The administration’s plan to slash park funding comes as millions of people are flocking to national parks and planning their summer trips. The latest Park Service visitation report confirmed 26 parks set record attendance last year alone, highlighting just how much people cherish these places. Yet as demand and pressure on parks grow, funding and staffing continue to shrink. Since January 2025, the Park Service has lost nearly 25% of its workforce – over 4,000 staff – due to pressured resignations and early retirements and an ongoing barriers to hiring. This follows a 13% decline in park staff since 2011, even as visitation has risen 19%, topping 323 million visits in 2025. These cuts have already led to fewer ranger-led programs, weakened resource protection, delayed maintenance and diminished visitor experiences.
Alongside these cuts, the administration continues to recognize the importance of addressing deferred maintenance needs in our national parks by asking Congress to extend the Legacy Restoration Fund that was established by the Great American Outdoors Act but expired last year. Our national parks face more than $23 billion in needed repairs across the system. Addressing these needs is essential to ensure future generations can experience these places as we have. NPCA is encouraged that the budget proposal recognizes this reality.
A recent national poll shows Americans are united on national parks. They want parks protected, funded and staffed. In fact, more than two-thirds of Americans reject the drastic cuts to park budgets this administration has pursued.
With Congress now set to review the proposal, NPCA and park advocates are calling on lawmakers to reject these harmful cuts and instead uphold their responsibility to protect our nation’s public lands.
Specific National Park Service-related budget proposals include:
- Establishes a $10 billion “Presidential Capital Stewardship Program” within NPS to “coordinate, plan, and execute targeted, priority construction and beautification projects in and around Washington, D.C.” Current budget documents don’t clarify how much would address D.C.’s $1.5 billion deferred maintenance backlog, cover routine upkeep across NPS sites, or fund new construction. This $10 billion represents nearly half of the Park System’s total deferred maintenance backlog, yet it’s unclear why new construction is prioritized, especially without a plan for maintaining new infrastructure.
- Cuts the annual National Park Service Construction budget to less than $50 million, leaving it with 72% less funding to address repairs compared to 2025.
- Supports reauthorization of the Legacy Restoration Fund established by the Great American Outdoors Act to repair and reconstruct infrastructure in national parks and other federal public lands.
- Cuts $4.6 billion (52%) from Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the agency responsible for enforcing vital laws like the Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act. Slashing these programs would increase pollution, harm air and water quality in our national parks, and endanger the health of visitors and nearby communities.
- Cuts the National Heritage Area program by approximately 87%, undermining the bipartisan investment Congress just made to this critical program that supports community driven efforts to protect historic resources.
- Slashes funding for federal land acquisition projects under the Land and Water Conservation Fund, undermining bipartisan support to protect national parks from incompatible development.
- Slashes the Historic Preservation Fund by 95%, eliminating opportunities for communities and tribes to protect historically and culturally irreplaceable resources throughout the country.
Statement by John Garder, Senior Director of Budget and Appropriations for the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA):
“A cut this massive would be catastrophic. After a year of deep staffing cuts, dwindling resources, and attacks on history and science, park staff are already at the brink. Park maintenance needs are growing, protections are eroding, and visitor experience is declining. This proposal would only accelerate the damage, putting our national parks at even greater risk and further cutting the park staff needed to care for our national treasures.
“At the same time, the administration appears to be prioritizing a vague set of new construction projects across Washington, DC, proposing $10 billion for this program alone, which is more than three times the annual budget of the National Park Service. We support efforts to modernize and repair park infrastructure but not when it’s paired with massive cuts to Park Service operations.
“Communities across the country rely on national parks for jobs, education and cultural preservation. Investing in national parks is investing in America, which is why a majority of Americans across the political spectrum reject these kinds of cuts. They want parks protected, fully staffed, and accessible for future generations, not hollowed out by senseless budgets.
“As the nation marks its 250th anniversary, the administration is undermining the very places that safeguard our history and heritage. Congress must reject this terrible budget and instead stand up and act for our most treasured places, just as they did last year with strong bipartisan support for our parks. Our national parks are not political pawns. They are part of who we are, and they must be protected now and for generations to come.”
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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 1.9 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.
