New Analysis Highlights Real-World Impacts of Ongoing Staffing Cuts to National Parks
Washington, D.C. — In a decision with sweeping consequences, the U.S. Supreme Court has lifted a lower court injunction blocking President Trump’s executive order directing federal agencies to prepare for large-scale reductions in force (RIF). While lower court challenges continue, this decision clears the way for the administration to move forward with mass federal layoffs, including devastating reductions at the National Park Service.
In response, the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (CPANP), Association of National Park Rangers (ANPR) and Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) have released new analysis detailing the real-world consequences of further staffing cuts, from slashed visitor services and delayed maintenance to weakened wildfire response and threats to cultural and natural resource protection. The findings are clear: continued cuts jeopardize the Park Service’s core mission to preserve America’s natural and historic treasures “unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.”
“The National Park Service is reeling from historic staffing losses. Nearly a quarter of its permanent staff are gone, and the rest are being stretched to the brink just trying to keep parks open, safe and protected,” said Theresa Pierno, President and CEO of NPCA. “The Supreme Court has opened the door to even deeper, more dangerous cuts, putting thousands of Park Service staff and the future of America’s national parks at risk. It took more than a century to build a world-class park system, and this administration could unravel it in a matter of months.”
Since the Trump administration took office, the Park Service has lost 24% of its permanent workforce, adding to a 20% cut in staff since 2010. Across the country, parks have already been forced to reduce visitor center hours, cancel educational programs, delay maintenance and conservation work, and leave critical law enforcement positions unfilled.
“This is an appalling way to treat employees who have dedicated their passions and careers to taking care of the visiting public and protecting the places that American Citizens have determined to be special,” said Bill Wade, Executive Director of ANPR. “We have never seen the morale of employees so low. How can they do their jobs effectively when they are experiencing such terrible treatment and when they fear layoffs?”
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has repeatedly called for cutting “overhead” in regional and Washington-based offices—staffed by scientists, planners, contracting experts, and so many others whose work is essential to keeping our entire National Park System up and running. These offices are the operational backbone of the Park Service, providing critical support across natural and cultural resource management, visitor services, business operations, external affairs and planning.
“This ruling by the Supreme Court will make an already dire situation at many national parks, program offices, and regional offices far worse,” said Emily Thompson, Executive Director of the CPANP. “Our National Park System needs NPS employees to help ensure our parks are safe and accessible, and the irreplaceable resources they protect will be around for future generations. Moving forward, safety at parks could be compromised and visitors should expect longer lines, reduced hours of operation at facilities, trails that are not maintained, limited access to some park amenities, and far fewer park rangers to help ensure they have a safe and memorable visit to their national parks. This is the worst-case scenario.“
Through this joint analysis, NPCA, ANPR, CPANP and PEER are holding the administration and Congress accountable to their duty to safeguard America’s most treasured places, demanding they immediately stop all further cuts, end the hiring freeze and fully restore all lost positions.
"Our national parks are poorly positioned to weather the storm of more layoffs and firings,” said Tim Whitehouse, Executive Director of PEER. “The steady decline of National Park Service staffing is putting both visitors and park resources at great risk. The Supreme Court’s decision could make a bad situation even worse. If Congress doesn’t act quickly, we risk losing the very people who make our national parks the treasures they are.”
You can access the new analysis here. This resource will be updated regularly to reflect new developments and threats.
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About the National Parks Conservation Association: Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association 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.
About the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks: CPANP is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization made up of over 4,500 members, all of whom are current, former, and retired employees or volunteers of the National Park Service (NPS). Together, they have accumulated over 50,000 years of experience caring for America’s most valuable natural and cultural resources. Our members include former NPS directors, deputy and regional directors, superintendents, park rangers (both law enforcement and interpretive), maintenance and administrative professionals, and many other dedicated career professionals. For more information, visit www.protectnps.org.
About the Association of National Park Rangers: The ANPR is an organization created to communicate for, about, and with National Park Service employees of all disciplines; to promote and enhance the professions, spirit, and mission of National Park Service employees; to support management and the perpetuation of the National Park Service and the National Park System; and to provide a forum for professional enrichment. For more information, visit www.anpr.org.
About Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility: PEER protects public employees who protect our environment. It is a service organization for environmental and public health professionals, land managers, scientists, enforcement officers and other civil servants dedicated to upholding environmental laws and values. For more information, visit www.peer.org.
