Last week, the New York Times published a report detailing the effects of recent widespread staffing cuts in America’s national parks, painting a concerning picture of the future of these cherished places.
The National Park Service has lost 24% of its permanent employees since the start of the Trump Administration and only hired roughly half of its seasonal employees, who are critical to supporting visitor safety and experience during the busy summer season. The report finds that more than 90 parks have identified problems as a result of this understaffing, including lost revenue, cancelled programs, and cuts to emergency services. These issues show little sign of resolving, with the administration proposing a $1.2 billion cut to the National Park Service’s annual funding, which is more than one-third of the agency’s budget.
In response to this report, EEN Director of Communications Lindsay Garcia released the following statement:
America’s national parks are incredible and unmatched places to experience and admire the beauty of God’s creation, learn about our nation’s history, and preserve natural habitats for precious wildlife and the enjoyment of future generations. As a former interpretation ranger in Rocky Mountain National Park–which hosted 4.2 million visitors in 2024 alone–I have seen first-hand how park staff, both permanent and seasonal, are crucial to ensuring positive visitor experiences and the safety of both people and wildlife.
The administration’s sweeping cuts to park staff–the backbone of our national parks–is irresponsible and short-sighted. It is also contrary to the administration’s own directive to keep parks open and accessible to tens of millions of visitors. Removing park staff threatens the agency’s core mission of promoting enjoyment, education, and inspiration along with threatening safety and accessibility by halting park maintenance and slowing emergency responses.
At EEN, we will continue to advocate for America’s national parks by championing popular, bipartisan legislation such as The Great American Outdoors Act, which is up for reauthorization later this year and will provide funding to address much-needed park maintenance. We similarly urge the administration to adequately support the thriving of our parks by abandoning plans to pursue further staffing and budget cuts in 2026. Instead, let us work together to preserve these beautiful and unique places so many Americans rightly treasure.
