The Trump administration’s federal layoffs are now impacting the nation’s national parks, leading to reduced staffing, shorter hours, and cuts to visitor services.
Cassidy Jones, a former National Park Service ranger now with the nonprofit National Parks Conservation Association, warned, “This spring is going to be very tough.”
For example, Saguaro National Park in Tucson will close both of its visitor centers starting Monday, February 24. Yosemite National Park has stopped accepting reservations for 577 campsites this summer. Effigy Mounds National Monument in Iowa will close its visitor center two days a week until summer, and Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico has canceled its guided tours.
The layoffs, which began earlier this month, have affected hundreds of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees and approximately 1,000 National Park Service workers.
One park director criticized the move, calling it “mindless, heartless, and ineffective at improving government efficiency.”
Jones expressed concern that the cuts are creating uncertainty as parks prepare for school field trips and other planned activities.
The timing is particularly troubling given the popularity of national parks. In 2023, more than 325 million people visited these sites.
Jones questioned the rationale behind the cuts, stating, “We spent millions promoting our national parks to the world, and now we’re wasting that investment. Are we cutting low-wage jobs just to give the wealthy bigger tax breaks? Is that the plan?”
The reductions in services and staffing are raising concerns about the long-term impact on both park operations and visitor experiences.
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