The Trump administration has proposed significant cuts to the National Park Service, which has already undergone significant staffing issues resulting from probationary worker firings, deferred resignations, and early retirement options meant to trim the federal workforce. States across the country have felt the impact of the attacks on national parks, as Trump administration policies have made parks less accessible, less safe, and understaffed.

President Trump proposed the largest cut to the National Park Service in history. In May 2025, the White House released a skinny budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2026. The proposal, if enacted, would reduce the budget for national parks, monuments, historic sites, seashores, and trails by nearly 25%. Trump’s FY26 budget proposal cut over $1.2 billion from the $4.8 billion National Park Service (NPS) Budget. According to the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), cuts to the NPS budget “could result in more than a 75% reduction to the parks system” wiping out “budgets and staffing for at least 350 national park units.” The budget slashed $900 million from national park operations, or 40% of the operations budget, money which supports daily activities, programs, facility maintenance, and visitor services at park units. The proposed budget also called for a $73 million cut for construction projects in national parks, which already have a $23 billion backlog in deferred maintenance projects, while the National Park Service Historic Preservation Fund would be cut by $158 million.

Reduction in Force at Interior Department could gut thousands of jobs from the National Park Service. According to Government Executive, the Interior Department was “finalizing reduction-in force plans” that would cut 1,500 jobs at the National Park Service. The reduction in force (RIF) proposal came on top of a “significant exodus” after some employees took deferred resignations, buyouts, and early retirement offers while a federal hiring freeze was in place. Even before the proposed RIF, the National Park Service already lost about 13% of its workforce, “complicating Burgum’s order to keep parks open without reducing hours.” At least 1,000 park service employees were terminated in February 2025 as part of reductions to the federal workforce initiated by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). According to ProPublica, as a result of the cuts, “visitor centers have reduced hours, tours of popular attractions have been canceled, lines have spiraled, bathrooms may go uncleaned, habitat restoration has ceased and water has gone unchecked for toxic algae.”

The United States’ incredibly popular national parks have seen cuts under the Trump administration that negatively impacted visitors and made parks less safe. In 2024, 332 million people visited recreational sites managed by the National Park Service. A 2024 poll showed the NPS had the most favorable rating of any government agency at 76%. In April 2025, Staffing issues because of Trump’s budget cuts, buyouts, and layoffs led to toilet closures at National Parks, weekly closures on certain days, and visitor center closures. At least eight national park sites have warned of closures or limited access to toilets and visitor centers because of staffing and budget issues under the Trump administration. Burgum ordered park service staff to keep as many amenities open as possible, which has required understaffed parks to assign scientists, rangers, and supervisors to help clean toilets. The cuts caused some parks to become less safe, including at Joshua Tree National Park, where search and rescue rangers were reassigned to collect visitor fees after six entrance-station employees were fired. DOGE-induced firings in February 2025 included emergency medical technicians and scientists within NPS. Saguaro National Park in February closed its visitor centers on Mondays due to staff shortages.

Across the Country, states have seen the impact of the Trump administration’s cuts including:

California. At Yosemite National Park in California, scientists, rangers, IT workers, and leadership teams were scheduled to pick up shifts cleaning campground bathrooms as a result of delayed seasonal worker hirings. And amid staffing shortages and funding cuts, the reopening of five of Yosemite National Park’s High Sierra camps was cancelled, as the park announced the camps would remain shuttered.
New York. The Fort Hancock revitalization project within the Gateway National Recreation Area in New York was officially terminated by the Trump administration. The cancellation of the project “aligns with its broader push to shrink federal bureaucracy, as outlined in Executive Order 14217, signed earlier this year.”
New Jersey. Three NPS units in New Jersey saw layoffs in early 2025, including four at Thomas Edison National Historical Park; 12 at Gateway National Recreation Area; and five at the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. The firings represented 5% of Gateway and Delaware Water Gap’s total full-time employee population and 20% at Thomas Edison.
Texas. At least nine employees at national park sites in Texas lost their jobs, including five at Big Bend National Park; two from the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park; and two from Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park.
Washington. About a half dozen employees at each of Washington’s three national parks, including Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic National Parks, were laid off. One of the cuts at Mount Rainier National Park included the park’s only plumber.
Massachusetts. Trump’s proposal to gut the National Park Service would cause visitors to Boston’s Harbor Islands to see fewer park rangers and reduce welcome center hours this summer. Boston Harbor Now president and CEO Kathy Abbott stated, “We’re going to have fewer people to work with the visitors […] It’ll have a negative impact on services I think, in terms of people being able to find somebody to help them.”
Minnesota. Trump proposed eliminating the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MNRRA) Visitor Center at the Science Museum of Minnesota and its Headquarters in St. Paul, Minnesota. 20 employees worked at the visitor center, which represents a 72-mile stretch of river that runs through 21 towns across the Twin Cities.
Ohio. In February 2025, Cuyahoga Valley National Park felt an immediate impact from Trump’s firings of probationary employees, as three employees lost jobs amid a federal hiring freeze. A park biologist, a maintenance worker, and “somebody in the planning area” were among the full-time employees fired at Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
Illinois. National Park Service firings impacted dozens in 11 states in the Midwest region, including at Pullman National Historical Park in Chicago. A class field trip at Pullman National Historical Park, managed by the National Park Service, was cancelled after the ranger coordinating the trip was fired.
Missouri. Gateway Arch National Park Employee claimed the Trump administration was “terrorizing” the park’s employees after “several” probationary employees were terminated in prior weeks. According to St. Louis Public Radio, “The terminated workers were told they were being let go due to performance issues, though some had not been there long enough to have received a formal employee review.”
Florida. Everglades National Park in Florida saw half of its research center staff gone as a result of the Trump administration’s probationary worker firings and early retirement options. Tourism to Florida’s eight parks, trails and historic sites contributed $871 million to the Florida economy in 2023.
Georgia. Federal budget cuts and layoffs within the National Park Service posed obstacles to upgrading the Ocmulgee Mounts National Historic Site to National Park status, as reduced funding could make it more difficult to maintain and manage.
Colorado. Rocky Mountain National Park was “one of the hardest-hit locations” across the National Park Service, seeing 12 of 253 full-time workers terminated in early 2025. Four national parks in Colorado collectively received nearly 5.5 million visitors in 2023. The Trump administration also reportedly planned to eliminate the Fort Collins NPS lease at the Oak Ridge Building, where over 100 specialists work for the Natural Resource Stewardship.
Delaware. In the four-state Delaware River watershed, there are 11 Park Service, which the NPCA claimed would face “chaos and staffing cuts will impact the visitor experience.” The Chesapeake Bay region, which serves Delaware, saw at least 40 employees lose their jobs, including botanists, biologists, maintenance workers and park rangers.
Nebraska. The Trump administration targeted the visitor center for Nebraska’s Niobrara National Scenic River as part of DOGE efforts to terminate leases under the General Services Administration. Over 74,000 visitors entered the Niobrara River through the park service visitor center in 2024. Niobrara Visitor Center is the “scenic river’s headquarters, and National Park Service staff work out of the building year round.”
Utah. National Park Service budget cuts led to the indefinite closure of “one of the most coveted hikes in the country” at the Fiery Furnace hike located within Arches National Park in Utah. In March 2025, Arches National Park also announced it was removing garbage cans and picnic tables to “reduce maintenance workloads” amid staffing and funding shortages.
Connecticut. Connecticut’s vast network of state parks relied on grants administered by the NPS for “critical repairs and infrastructure improvement projects.” NPS grant funding to the Connecticut Forest and Park Association (CFPA) was frozen in 2025, which the organization uses to “support essential work” in trail maintenance, safety equipment, and education.
Tennessee. In March 2025, six of 10 campgrounds at Great Smoky Mountains National Park were closed as the Park faced staffing shortages and funding limits under the Trump administration. The cuts came after the Great Smoky Mountains had 12.2 million visitors in 2024, the most of any park in the National Par Service system. Staffing needs for Great Smoky Mountains National Park have only increased due to damages caused by Hurricane Helene.
Rhode Island. Protestors in Rhode Island called on the federal government to rehire National Park Service employees at the Roger Williams National Memorial, a Park Service site in Providence. A Rhode Island report stated it had lost or was at risk of losing over $90 million in federal dollars due to the Trump administration’s cuts.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS HARMING AMERICA’S ICONIC NATIONAL PARKS

Trump Proposed The Largest National Park Service Cut In History

May 2025: Trump’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposal (FY26) would reduce the budget for national parks, monuments, historic sites, seashores, and trails by nearly 25%. “The new budget proposal from President Donald Trump would reduce the budget for the nation’s national parks, monuments, historic sites, seashores and trails by nearly 25% and hand over many of those to the states. The proposal suggests cutting more than $1.2 billion from the $4.8 billion park service budget. It quickly sparked outrage from leaders of organizations devoted to national parks and recreation lands, who had already voiced concern about the staff cuts ordered by the Department of Governmental Efficiency and other plans raised by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.” [USA Today, 5/4/25]

Trump’s FY26 budget proposal suggested cutting over $1.2 billion from the $4.8 billion National Park Service (NPS) Budget. “The proposal suggests cutting more than $1.2 billion from the $4.8 billion park service budget. It quickly sparked outrage from leaders of organizations devoted to national parks and recreation lands, who had already voiced concern about the staff cuts ordered by the Department of Governmental Efficiency and other plans raised by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.” [USA Today, 5/4/25]

National Park Conservation Association: Proposed cuts to the NPS budget “could result in more than a 75% reduction to the parks system” wiping out “budgets and staffing for at least 350 national park units.” “The proposed cuts to the National Park Service budget could result in more than a 75% reduction to the parks system, according to NPCA calculations that found the cuts would ‘essentially wipe out budgets and staffing for at least 350 national park units’ out of the 433 in the parks system. In early April, Interior Secretary Burgum issued a memo requiring that all park units ‘remain open and accessible to the American public during the specified hours of operation posted on the respective park units’ public webpages.’” [Forbes, 5/8/25]

Trump’s FY26 budget proposed cutting $900 million from national park operations, money which supports daily activities, programs, facility maintenance, and visitor services at park units. “Trump administration proposed cuts include slashing $900 million from national park operations, which make up 86% of the Park Service’s total budget. This money supports daily activities, programs and visitor services at park units. It also helps protect resources and maintain facilities.” [SF Gate, 5/2/25]

National Park Service operations would be cut by nearly 40% in the proposed Trump administration FY26 budget. “The Trump administration wants to reduce federal spending on national park operations by almost 40% as part of his broader agenda to shrink the size of the federal government across most agencies and departments, with notable exceptions for the Defense and Transportation departments. The Trump administration wants to reduce federal spending on national park operations by almost 40% as part of his broader agenda to shrink the size of the federal government across most agencies and departments, with notable exceptions for the Defense and Transportation departments.” [SF Gate, 5/2/25]

Trump’s proposed budget called for a $73 million cut for construction projects in national parks, which already have a $23 billion backlog in deferred maintenance projects. “The proposed budget outlines $73 million in cuts to funding for construction projects in national parks, which already face a $23 billion backlog of deferred maintenance projects. These funds go to repairing, replacing and improving existing facilities, as well as new construction. A report on fiscal year 2025 appropriations states that the sheer amount and cost of necessary maintenance work in parks ‘has been a significant issue in the appropriations process’ that continues to increase over the years.” [SF Gate, 5/2/25]

Trump’s budget proposal would cut the National Park Service Historic Preservation Fund by $158 million. “Trump’s budget request calls for cutting $158 million in funding to the National Park Service Historic Preservation Fund, a fund established by Congress in 1977 to ‘carry out activities related to preservation,’ according to a park service web page. The fund receives a base $150 million annually from offshore oil and gas lease revenue, not general fund tax dollars.” [SF Gate, 5/2/25]

Trump’s proposed budget would represent the largest cut in National Park Service history. “If enacted, the cuts would be the largest in National Park Service history, according to the National Park Conservation Association, a nonprofit that advocates for national parks. It’s also the first time a president has proposed turning over park sites to states and removing them from the national park system, something that would likely require an act of Congress to accomplish.” [SF Gate, 5/2/25]

The National Park Service managed 433 national park sites, including 63 “national parks.” “The park service manages 433 national park sites, with 63 of those being what people tend to think of as ‘national parks’ — like Yosemite, Yellowstone and Grand Canyon national parks, according to the National Park Foundation. Park units also include battlefields, monuments, military parks and historic sites. The budget proposal says sites that ‘receive small numbers of mostly local visitors’ are ‘better categorized and managed as State level parks.’ Most park units, no matter their size or visitation numbers, are designated by Congress — not the president, though national monuments are governed by the Antiquities Act, which gives the president power to create (or shrink) these protected areas. National monuments are not mentioned specifically in the budget request.” [SF Gate, 5/2/25]

Trump Planned To Gut Thousands Of Jobs From National Park Service

According to Government Executive, the Interior Department was “finalizing reduction-in force plans” that would cut 1,500 jobs at the National Park Service. “The Interior Department is finalizing reduction-in-force plans expected to target thousands of employees, including 1,500 at the National Park Service, with notices going out to employees within 10 days. The anticipated layoffs follow the departure of thousands of Interior employees leaving the department under various incentives. Interior earlier in May initiated a consolidation of several functions currently conducted by each bureau individually by rolling them up into the department’s headquarters, where they will report directly to Secretary Doug Burgum. Some of the employees who were part of that consolidation—such as those in IT, communications, finance, human resources and contracting—are eventually expected to feel the impacts of workforce downsizing.” [Government Executive, 5/7/25]

The reduction in force (RIF) proposal came on top of a “significant exodus” after some employees took deferred resignations, buyouts, and early retirement offers while a federal hiring freeze was in place. “The cuts come on top of a significant exodus across Interior as employees have flocked to the deferred resignation, buyouts and early retirements all while a hiring freeze is in place. NPS has already lost around 13% of its workforce, according to NPCA, complicating Burgum’s order to keep parks open without reducing hours.” [Government Executive, 5/7/25]

Even before proposed RIF, the National Park Service already lost about 13% of its workforce, “complicating Burgum’s order to keep parks open without reducing hours.” “NPS has already lost around 13% of its workforce, according to NPCA, complicating Burgum’s order to keep parks open without reducing hours. The mandate—park superintendents will need a sign off from agency leadership to close even a trail or visitor center—already raised concerns with agency stakeholders even before the layoff plans were made clear. NPCA’s Brengel suggested Burgum was ‘setting up the Park Service for failure’ as it aims to carry out the same level of operations without the requisite staff to do so.” [Government Executive, 5/7/25]

At least 1,000 park service employees were terminated in February 2025 as part of reductions to the federal workforce initiated by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). “On Feb. 14, at least 1,000 park service employees were terminated as part of broad reductions to the federal workforce by the Trump administration and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. As a result, visitor centers have reduced hours, tours of popular attractions have been canceled, lines have spiraled, bathrooms may go uncleaned, habitat restoration has ceased and water has gone unchecked for toxic algae.” [Pro Publica, 3/14/25]

As a result of the cuts, “visitor centers have reduced hours, tours of popular attractions have been canceled, lines have spiraled, bathrooms may go uncleaned, habitat restoration has ceased and water has gone unchecked for toxic algae.” “As a result, visitor centers have reduced hours, tours of popular attractions have been canceled, lines have spiraled, bathrooms may go uncleaned, habitat restoration has ceased and water has gone unchecked for toxic algae. Meanwhile, rangers have been ordered to describe these cuts — or ‘attrition’ and ‘workforce management actions,’ according to the talking points — as ‘prioritizing fiscal responsibility’ and ‘staffing to meet the evolving needs of our visitors.’ They also should tell visitors the parks will continue to ensure ‘memorable and meaningful experiences for all.’” [Pro Publica, 3/14/25]

Government Executive: “NPS is expected to issue around 1,500 RIFs, while the U.S. Geological Survey will lay off around 1,000 employees.” “NPS is expected to issue around 1,500 RIFs, while the U.S. Geological Survey will lay off around 1,000 employees—focused on its Ecosystems Mission Area, according to a person familiar with the plans—and the Bureau of Reclamation will target around 100 to 150 employees, according to another employee there briefed on the details. Other components, such as the Bureau of Land Management and the Fish and Wildlife Service, are also expected to experience layoffs. Four sources confirmed the first round of RIFs are expected on or around May 15.” [Government Executive, 5/7/25]

The Bureau of Reclamation lost about one-quarter of its 5,800 employees through incentive departures. “Reclamation already lost about one-quarter of its 5,800 employees through incentivized departures, according to an employee briefed on the details, so it is expecting a smaller RIF of 100 to 150 employees. At NPS, meanwhile, just 5% of employees have so far opted into the ‘deferred resignation program’—which has enabled them to take paid leave through September, at which point they must leave government service—leading to a more significant expected RIF for the agency.” [Government Executive, 5/7/25]

National Park Service Staffing Issues Have Impacted Americans

2024: 332 million people visited recreational sites managed by the National Park Service. “332 million. That’s how many people visited recreational sites managed by the NPS in 2024, according to the agency’s website. The previous year, visitor spending in communities near national parks drove a record high $55.6 billion benefit to the nation’s economy and supported 415,400 jobs, according to a 2024 news release” [Forbes, 5/8/25]

2024 Pew Research Center poll showed the National Park Service had the most favorable rating of any government agency at 76%. “A 2024 Pew Research Center poll showed that the park service had the most favorable rating of any government agency at 76%, with strong support from a majority of both Democrats and Republicans. ‘This is not a partisan matter. This is not a political matter,’ said Stiles, with Friends of Acadia. ‘This is really about the foundational experience of participating, learning from, recreating in the best America has to offer by way of our natural treasures and cultural treasures.’” [NPR, 2/26/25]

April 2025: Staffing issues because of Trump’s budget cuts, buyouts, and layoffs led to toilet closures at National Parks, weekly closures on certain days, and visitor center closures. “Struggling to find a restroom at some National Park Service sites this spring? You’re in good company. Need relief in Utah’s Arches National Park? Some toilets are closed. Visiting King’s Canyon in California? Better hope it’s not a Tuesday. Need to make a pit stop at Maryland’s Greenbelt Park? That’s a no-go. Citing staffing issues as a result of President Donald Trump’s budget cuts, buyouts and layoffs across the National Park Service, multiple national parks have closed their toilets and visitor centers. While courts have rolled back some of the February cuts, roughly 2,400 to 2,500 staff positions have been lost, according to a preliminary estimate by the National Parks Conservation Association, a nonprofit advocacy group.” [USA Today, 4/16/25]

Rangers responsible for search and rescue at Joshua Tree National Park were reassigned to collecting visitor fees after six entrance-station staff were fired. “Employees say public safety is already at risk at Joshua Tree National Park, where the busy season started more or less immediately after Trump’s job cuts. Six entrance-station staff were fired last week. With big holiday crowds flocking to the desert park over Presidents Day weekend, rangers normally responsible for preventative search and rescue were reassigned to collecting visitor fees, according to a park employee who requested anonymity for fear of reprisals. ‘Preventative search and rescue is a big part of our park operation, trying to make sure people who visit the park are safe and don’t get lost and have the water and stuff that they need to go out into the park,’ the employee says. ‘So all our park visitors are less safe because we don’t have those people working in those other capacities.’” [Bloomberg Law, 2/21/25]

DOGE-induced firings included emergency medical technicians and scientists at the National Park Service. “Of those fired, the affected include emergency medical technicians and scientists, including some employees who had been with the National Park Service for years. Douce said climate research could be stalled because scientists study species in parks. ‘They’re moving fast and breaking stuff. It’s just sloppy, it’s hurting people and it’s putting the public at risk, too,’ Alex Wild, who was a park ranger at Devils Postpile National Monument and Yosemite, told The Independent last week.” [The Independent, 3/1/25]

February 2025: Saguaro National Park closed its visitor centers on Mondays until further notice due to staff shortages. “Saguaro National Park in Arizona says its visitor centers will be closed on Mondays until further notice. Yosemite National Park announced it is delaying reservation bookings at five of its popular campgrounds, affecting reservations in June and July. Responding to reports of staffing shortages causing wait times twice as long as usual at the Grand Canyon last weekend, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs called it ‘a slap in the face for Arizonans and all who love to come here.’ (The Grand Canyon National Park referred comment to the NPS.)” [NPR, 2/26/25]

At least eight national park sites have warned of closures or limited access to toilets and visitor centers as a result of staffing and budget issues under the Trump administration. “A USA TODAY survey of all 433 National Park Service units ‒ from the mighty Grand Canyon to the tiny Sand Creek Massacre site ‒ shows at least eight of them have warned of closures or staffing limitations impacting access to toilets and visitor centers. Experts say there’s a growing tension between Trump’s cuts and the parks’ overwhelming popularity. An estimated 332 million people visited national parks in 2024, a new record.” [USA Today, 4/16/25]

Burgum ordered park service staff to keep as many amenities open as possible, which has required understaffed parks to assign scientists, rangers, and supervisors to help clean toilets. “To minimize disruptions for visitors, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has ordered park service staff to keep open as many amenities as possible, in some cases requiring scientists, park rangers and supervisors to help clean toilets. Burgum’s order says park officials can’t close toilets or other amenities without the express permission of his office, stripping park superintendents of that discretion.” [USA Today, 4/16/25]

STATES ARE FEELING THE IMPACTS OF NATIONAL PARKS CHAOS

California

April 2025: At Yosemite National Park in California, scientists, rangers, IT workers, and leadership teams were scheduled to pick up shifts cleaning campground bathrooms as a result of delayed seasonal worker hirings. “In Yosemite National Park, where the hiring of seasonal employees was delayed by the Donald Trump administration, a resulting shortage of custodial workers now means the park’s scientists, rangers, IT workers and leadership team will pick up shifts cleaning campground bathrooms. An internal email shared with SFGATE detailed the staffers’ new custodial duties, which were also confirmed by several Yosemite employees who spoke on the condition of anonymity (which was granted in accordance with Hearst’s ethics policy, because the employees feared losing their jobs). One employee told SFGATE that every year-round staff member in the Resources Management and Science Division, which includes biologists, hydrologists, archaeologists, wildlife specialists and all the park’s other scientists, had to pick up at least one bathroom cleaning shift.” [SF Gate, 4/11/25]

May 2025: Amid staffing shortages and funding cuts, the reopening of five of Yosemite National Park’s High Sierra camps was cancelled, as the park announced the camps would remain shuttered. “Established more than a century ago, Yosemite National Park’s High Sierra Camps are one of the most coveted reservations in any national park in America. Guests sleep in glamping tent cabins, dine on high-end meals prepared by specially trained chefs with gourmet ingredients transported by mule, and have access to running water in the middle of the park’s stunning, otherwise untouched wilderness. This summer, the collection of five historic High Sierra Camps was supposed to fully reopen for the first time since 2018. Instead, amid staffing shortages and funding cuts, the posh backcountry stays will remain shuttered, according to an announcement on the park concessioner’s website.” [SF Gate, 5/14/25]

New York

The Fort Hancock revitalization project within the Gateway National Recreation Area in New York was officially terminated by the Trump administration. “The long-stalled Fort Hancock revitalization project, a 25-year effort to breathe new life into the decaying historic district within Gateway National Recreation Area, has been officially terminated by the Trump administration. The decision, enacted through Executive Order 14217, Commencing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy, led to the dissolution of the Fort Hancock 21st Century Federal Advisory Committee on February 27, by Secretary of Commerce Jacob Burgum, effectively ending the National Park Service’s (NPS) ambitions to restore the area through adaptive reuse. Fort Hancock, a historic military post on the Sandy Hook peninsula, has languished for decades, with most of its buildings—once bustling officers’ residences and operational structures—standing vacant and deteriorating.” [Shore News Network, 3/12/25]

The cancellation of the project “aligns with its broader push to shrink federal bureaucracy, as outlined in Executive Order 14217, signed earlier this year.” “The Trump administration’s cancellation aligns with its broader push to shrink federal bureaucracy, as outlined in Executive Order 14217, signed earlier this year. The order mandates the termination of advisory committees deemed unnecessary, a move supporters argue streamlines government operations and cuts costs. The Fort Hancock committee’s dissolution marks the end of a federally backed effort that critics say had little to show for its quarter-century lifespan.” [Shore News Network, 3/12/25]

New Jersey

Three NPS units in New Jersey saw layoffs in early 2025, including four at Thomas Edison National Historical Park; 12 at Gateway National Recreation Area; and five at the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. “For the National Park Service, that effort comes from the Resistance Rangers, an online group of about 700 off-duty rangers and former employees of the National Park Service. The group has compiled a list of firings at National Park units around the country, confirmed through hours of crowdsourced information-gathering. The Resistance Rangers’ spreadsheet currently includes information on 759 confirmed firings at the National Park Service. Three New Jersey NPS units are on the list: Thomas Edison National Historical Park (4 confirmed terminations), Gateway National Recreation Area (11), and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (5, with a highlight indicating that this number is a minimum and the exact number is unknown).” [Ridgeview Echo, 3/12/25]

The firings represented 5 percent of Gateway and Delaware Water Gap’s total full-time employee population, while making up 20% at Thomas Edison. “Another is proportion. The firings represent 5% of both Gateway’s and Delaware Water Gap’s total full-time employee population, according to the NPS’ budget justification from the Department of the Interior for FY25. But at Thomas Edison, a much smaller park, the firings make up 20% of the park’s total full-time staff.” [Ridgeview Echo, 3/12/25]

Texas

At least nine employees at national park sites in Texas lost their jobs, including five at Big Bend National Park; two from the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park; and two from Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park. “In Texas, at least nine employees at national park sites lost their jobs, said Bill Wade, executive director of the nonprofit Association of National Park Rangers. Five from Big Bend National Park, two from Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park in the Hill Country and two from Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park in Brownsville were fired. Positions include maintenance workers and custodians, fee collectors who greeted visitors and passed out maps, and rangers who led group hikes and answered questions at welcome centers, Wade said. The firings are part of efforts by the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency, run by billionaire businessman and entrepreneur Elon Musk, which is seeking to dramatically cut the federal workforce. Firings have largely targeted the roughly 200,000 federal employees on probationary status, often because they started their positions within the past year.” [Dallas Morning News, 2/24/25]

Washington

February 2025: About a half dozen employees at each of Washington’s three national parks, including Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic National Parks, were laid off. “About half a dozen employees at each of Washington’s three national parks are believed to have been laid off as part of the Trump administration’s government-wide push to slash staff. Mount Rainier and North Cascades national parks each saw six employees let go last week, while Olympic National Park lost five, said Bill Wade, the executive director of the Association of National Park Rangers. It’s been difficult for anyone to figure out the extent of layoffs at Washington’s parks. Even the park superintendents have been kept mostly in the dark. Wade got information from ‘reliable sources, such as other employees in the parks, or from one who is terminated and knows how many others in the park were terminated.’” [Washington State Standard, 2/20/25]

One of the cuts at Mount Rainier National Park included the park’s only plumber. “The cuts at Mount Rainier included the popular park’s only plumber, Wade said Thursday. The Trump administration also laid off one employee at the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area in northeast Washington, Wade said. Nationwide, more than 1,000 National Park Service probationary employees have been let go as Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency has taken a buzzsaw to the federal workforce in recent weeks.” [Washington State Standard, 2/20/25]

Massachusetts

Trump’s proposal to gut the National Park Service would cause visitors to Boston’s Harbor Islands to see fewer park rangers and reduce welcome center hours this summer. “Visitors to Boston’s Harbor Islands can expect to see fewer park rangers and reduced welcome center hours this summer, according to Boston Harbor nonprofit leaders. The expected reduction in service comes as the Trump administration slashes funding to the National Park Service. President Trump’s proposed budget would reduce the agency’s budget by more than $1.2 billion. The Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park’s seasonal workforce has already been reduced, said Kathy Abbott, president and CEO of the park’s nonprofit partner Boston Harbor Now. Cuts could affect the operations at the park’s welcome center located on the Rose Kennedy Greenway. Steps away from Faneuil Hall in downtown Boston, the kiosk is often the first point of contact for tourists looking for help with ferry service and park programs.” [WBUR, 5/16/25]

Boston Harbor Now President and CEO Kathy Abbott: “We’re going to have fewer people to work with the visitors […] It’ll have a negative impact on services I think, in terms of people being able to find somebody to help them.” “‘ We’re going to have fewer people to work with the visitors,’ Abbott said. ‘It’ll have a negative impact on services I think, in terms of people being able to find somebody to help them.’ About half a million people visit the Harbor Islands every year, according to the nonprofit.” [WBUR, 5/16/25]

Minnesota

Trump proposed eliminating the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MNRRA) Visitor Center at the Science museum of Minnesota and its Headquarters in St. Paul, Minnesota. “The Trump administration is planning to terminate National Park Service leases and shutter 34 offices across the country that function as visitor centers, law enforcement offices, museums and hubs for critical park services. ‘There was nothing strategic; it was just random,’ said John Anfinson. He joined the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MNRRA), a unit of the National Park Service, in 2000, where he served as Superintendent from 2014-2020. The MNRRA is a 72-mile stretch of the river that runs through 21 towns across the Twin Cities, which Congress designated as a national park in 1988. Trump’s plan targets the MNRRA visitor center at the Science Museum of Minnesota and its headquarters, both in St. Paul.” [KARE 11, 3/6/25]

20 employees worked at the visitor center and the headquarters in St. Paul. “‘It wasn’t based on what’s the value of this park, what’s the need of this park, what’s it’s mission, who does it serve, it was simply about timing,’ said Anfinson. ‘How does that serve the American public?’ The leases are set to expire in September and December. The visitor center and the headquarters house about 20 employees. Three probationary employees were already laid off, including a cultural resources manager and a bio-technician. Anfinson estimates the leases on the two spaces are worth more than $300,000. ‘In the government budget, it’s immeasurably small, it’s tiny,’ said Anfinson. ‘I guess what they’re looking at is what’s the cumulative savings.’” [KARE 11, 3/6/25]

Ohio

February 2025: Cuyahoga Valley National Park felt an immediate impact from Trump’s firings of probationary employees, as three employees lost jobs amid a federal hiring freeze. “The Trump administration is pressing forward with efforts to reduce federal jobs, and Cuyahoga Valley National Park is already feeling the impact, with more cuts possibly on the horizon. The Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park told News 5 that on Friday, three employees lost their jobs. Since January, the park has been under a hiring freeze, and with the peak season approaching, there’s growing concern about the future.” [News 5 Cleveland, 2/19/25]

A park biologist, a maintenance worker, and “somebody in the planning area” were among the full-time employees fired at Cuyahoga Valley National Park. “Of the roughly 1,000 National Park Service employees who lost their jobs Friday, several of them were from Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Deb Yandala, president and CEO of the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park, said three full-time positions were terminated. ‘My understanding is that it was somebody in the planning area, a park biologist and maintenance worker,’ Yandala said. She said the affected workers were notified Friday, and Tuesday was the last day they received pay. She wasn’t aware of any part-time employees who were also let go. Signal Akron reached out to several contacts at CVNP, including Public Information Officer Pamela Barnes. She said to contact the National Park Service’s Midwest region communications office for details on the cuts. As of press time, no one from the office had responded to our inquiry. The firings at the National Park Service are the latest in a series of cuts across federal agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration.” [Signal Cleveland, 2/20/25]
Pro-Labor news outlet “More Perfect Union” erected 300 billboards in Ohio warning of the consequences of National Park Service Layoffs at Cuyahoga Valley National Park. “A pro-labor news outlet is putting up 26 billboards across Northeast Ohio this week to protest the Trump administration’s cuts to national parks. The big picture: More Perfect Union launched a multimillion-dollar national ad blitz in more than 40 cities decrying the gutting of ‘one of our nation’s most treasured assets.’ The billboards warn of the potential consequences of National Park Service layoffs, like longer waits, more trash and dirty bathrooms. State of play: Several workers at Cuyahoga Valley National Park were laid off in February in the Trump administration’s purge of federal employees at national parks and forests. Zoom in: Nearly 70 of the group’s 300 billboards are going up in Ohio, with signs installed along highways and major streets in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Dayton. Locally, the billboards will be visible on I-90, I-71, I-77, I-480, I-271 and US 422. The group plans to keep the billboards up for about a month.” [Axios, 5/6/25]

Illinois

National Park Service firings impacted dozens in 11 states in the Midwest region, including at Pullman National Historical Park in Chicago. “The future of protected natural spaces and the ability of these places to provide recreation and education became more precarious Wednesday after Trump ordered federal agencies to come up with plans to reduce permanent staff members by March 13. ‘Since 2010, park staffing has gone down 20%, but park visitation has gone up 16% — so these park staff are resilient folks who have been doing more with less,’ said Crystal Davis, Midwest senior regional director for the National Parks Conservation Association, a nonpartisan organization that advocates on behalf of the parks system. But the current changes are wide-reaching, she said, with a ‘devastating impact.’ Davis said dozens of people in 53 national parks across 11 states in the region have been fired, including at Pullman National Historical Park in Chicago. Areas managed by the U.S. Forest Service have also been affected; in Will County, a dozen staff members were fired at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie.” [Chicago Tribune, 3/1/25]

A class field trip at Pullman National Historical Park, managed by the National Park Service, was cancelled after the ranger coordinating the trip was fired. “Advocates say the timing of personnel changes at the parks — which besides resource managers include rangers as well as administrative and janitorial employees — will likely affect the public’s experience as warm weather approaches and visitor numbers climb. That has already happened at Pullman. A class field trip to the park had to be postponed after the ranger who helped coordinate it was fired, according to a teacher at Naperville North High School. ‘I’ve been following the news that there were a great deal of cuts across the national parks and that the rangers were losing their jobs,’ said Jack Wright, who teaches a class in Chicago history. ‘I just didn’t expect — and this could have been naive of me — to have it so swiftly and directly impact the students in my classroom.’” [Chicago Tribune, 3/1/25]

Missouri

February 2025: Gateway Arch National Park Employee claimed the Trump administration was “terrorizing” the park’s employees after “several” probationary employees were terminated in prior weeks. “An employee at Gateway Arch National Park told St. Louis Public Radio that the Trump administration, with its ongoing workforce reduction measures, is ‘terrorizing’ the park’s federal employees. The employee, who spoke to STLPR on the condition of anonymity out of fear of retribution, is one of about 200 National Park Service workers on staff at the Arch. The National Park Service owns and operates the Arch, the visitor center, the Old Courthouse and more than 90 acres of land beneath it all. The employee told STLPR that several colleagues have been terminated in recent weeks. They declined to elaborate on a number but said the terminated workers were probationary employees, as defined by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.” [St. Louis Public Radio, 2/27/25]

St. Louis Public Radio: “The terminated workers were told they were being let go due to performance issues, though some had not been there long enough to have received a formal employee review.” “The terminated workers were told they were being let go due to performance issues, though some had not been there long enough to have received a formal employee review. The anonymous worker said some of those employees had uprooted their lives for what was supposed to be a promising career move. NPR reports about 1,000 federal park employees were laid off Feb. 14 nationwide. The employee said those left are in fear of changing directives from Washington and additional job cuts that may not align with legal requirements for personnel reduction as outlined by the personnel office. Official word can change multiple times over the course of the day, they said.” [St. Louis Public Radio, 2/27/25]
Employees at Gateway Arch National Park claimed they may have to reduce hours and access to make up for staffing shortages, as other parks had done. “The anonymous employee said visitor-facing operations are running as usual for now, including moving forward with the reopening of the updated Old Courthouse and museum on May 3. However, the employee and McClure both separately said hours and access may have to be reduced to make up for staffing shortages, as is already happening at other National Parks.” [St. Louis Public Radio, 2/27/25]

Florida

Everglades National Park in Florida saw half of its research center staff gone as a result of the Trump administration’s probationary worker firings and early retirement options. “Staffers at several Florida national parks — including Big Cypress and the Everglades — were laid off following the Trump administration’s sweeping cuts to the National Park Service this month. Why it matters: Layoffs could mean reduced park hours, longer entrance lines and possibly fewer educational visits for young students. […] Zoom in: Everglades National Park in South Florida reported the most cuts, with 12 employees, according to Wade. WLRN reported half of the park’s research center staff is gone, with three employees cut and another three taking early retirement.” [Axios Miami, 2/25/25]

Tourism to Florida’s eight parks, trails and historic sites contributed $871 million to the Florida economy in 2023. “Tourism to Florida’s eight parks, trails and historic sites contributed $871 million to the state’s economy in 2023, a federal report released last year shows. The big picture: The Trump administration is cutting about 1,000 National Park Service and 3,400 Forest Service positions nationwide. State of play: Exact information about which position has been eliminated at each park remains unclear, Bill Wade, executive director of the Association of National Park Rangers, told Axios.” [Axios Miami, 2/25/25]

Georgia

Federal budget cuts and layoffs within the National Park Service posed obstacles to upgrading the Ocmulgee Mounts National Historic Site to National Park status, as reduced funding could make it more difficult to maintain and manage. “A long-running effort to establish Georgia’s first national park is on its way to getting a fresh start, but concerns over federal budget cuts and staffing shortages could pose obstacles. Supporters of the initiative argue that upgrading the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historic Site to national park status would bring significant economic and cultural benefits to Central Georgia. […] One major concern is the impact of recent federal budget cuts, which have led to layoffs within the National Park Service. Reduced funding could make it difficult to properly maintain and manage Ocmulgee Mounds if it attains national park status. However, Clark remains hopeful that political gridlock in Washington won’t delay the bill’s progress. ‘The majority of the supporters of this legislation are in the same party as the president. I don’t think the usual political gridlock will impact this,’ he said.” [WMAZ, 2/18/25]

Colorado

Rocky Mountain National Park was “one of the hardest-hit locations” across the National Park Service, seeing 12 of 253 full-time workers terminated in early 2025. “More than 750 U.S. national park employees — including in Colorado — have been fired amid the Trump administration’s purge of federal workers, per an unofficial tally shared with Axios by a park ranger. Why it matters: The cuts come months before peak summer travel, leaving parks short-staffed, including for critical lifesaving search-and-rescue missions. Zoom in: Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park is among the hardest-hit locations across the U.S. National Park Service (NPS), with 12 of 253 full-time workers terminated, the count shows. Meanwhile, the National Parks and Conservation Association this week flagged another looming cut: the Trump administration’s plans to terminate 34 NPS leases nationwide — including one in Fort Collins, where more than 100 specialists work. That site, the Oak Ridge Building, serves as headquarters for the Natural Resource Stewardship, a key hub for conservation efforts across the national park system.” [Axios Denver, 3/5/25]

Trump administration planned to eliminate Fort Collins NPS lease at the Oak Ridge Building, where over 100 specialists work for the Natural Resource Stewardship. “Meanwhile, the National Parks and Conservation Association this week flagged another looming cut: the Trump administration’s plans to terminate 34 NPS leases nationwide — including one in Fort Collins, where more than 100 specialists work. That site, the Oak Ridge Building, serves as headquarters for the Natural Resource Stewardship, a key hub for conservation efforts across the national park system.” [Axios Denver, 3/5/25]

Four national parks in Colorado collectively received nearly 5.5 million visitors in 2023, including 4.1 million at Rocky Mountain National Park. “There are four national parks in Colorado: Rocky Mountain, Great Sand Dunes, Mesa Verde and Black Canyon of the Gunnison. They collectively received nearly 5.5 million visitors in 2023, with over 4.1 million coming from the Rocky Mountain National Park alone.” [Westword, 2/21/25]

Delaware

In the four-state Delaware River watershed, there are 11 Park Service, which the NPCA claimed would face “chaos and staffing cuts will impact the visitor experience.” “Renee Reber, NPCA’s clean water and climate program manager, said that despite all the confusion and headaches of the past three months, the biggest headache is the looming staff cuts. ‘We don’t know what that entails or what the percentage of staffing cuts will be demanded.’ Reber added on Tuesday that there’s nothing concrete being announced about those staff cuts. But the NPS has until September to make it happen. So, likely, more bad news. In the four-state Delaware River watershed, there are 11 other Park Service units, ranging from the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area to Independence Park to Valley Forge to Hopewell Furnace, in Elverson, Pa. Not all are necessarily national parks. Some are wild and scenic rivers, some are national historic sites or national historic trails, for example. It’s difficult to know how federal cutbacks might economically affect communities that benefit from tourists visiting the various NPS sites in the watershed. Reber pointed out that the chaos and staffing cuts will impact the visitor experience, level of service, and safety. Staff are being lost at every level, she said, from operations and maintenance, to law enforcement, to park supervisors and beyond.” [Delaware Currents, 4/16/25]

In The Chesapeake Bay region, at least 40 employees lost their jobs, including botanists, biologists, maintenance workers and park rangers. “In the Chesapeake Bay region, botanists, biologists, maintenance workers and park rangers were among the staff initially laid off. At least 40 employees lost their jobs, according to local news reports, a spreadsheet from an anonymous park ranger and Bay Journal interviews with unions and nonprofits. The February firings came abruptly. Nathaniel Bauder, a maintenance worker at Gettysburg National Military Park, had finished his Friday shift when he got an email saying his position was terminated immediately. Ranalli received a similar email. She knew she was laid off before her supervisors did. For income, Ranalli went back to her former job as an English teacher. But with school already in session, only temporary positions were available with no health insurance (Ranalli is a cancer survivor). Bauder was still looking for a job when, in late March, he got a call that he had been reinstated.” [Bay Journal, 3/26/25]

The Chesapeake Bay region serves Delaware. “Over 41 million acres are connected through the waters that flow to and through Chesapeake Bay. The National Park Service strives to connect people to the opportunities and adventures throughout the watershed. Inspiring stewardship across this vast region supports recreation, business, tourism, learning, and a thriving natural resource for all to enjoy.” [National Park Service, accessed 5/20/25]

Nebraska

March 2025: The Trump administration targeted the visitor center for Nebraska’s Niobrara National Scenic River as part of DOGE efforts to terminate leases under the General Services Administration. “The Trump administration is seeking to cancel the leases for 34 National Park Service buildings, including visitor centers, law enforcement offices and museums that house millions of artifacts. The General Services Administration has proposed terminating most of the leases within a year, saying the decision could save taxpayers millions of dollars. But park advocates have warned that the move could harm the visitor experience at national parks across the country, especially during the peak summer season. The 34 locations were included in a larger list of hundreds of federal properties the government was looking to give up or sell. […] The list also includes the French Quarter visitor center at the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park, which showcases the history and traditions of jazz music through exhibits and live performances. Shuttering the site could ‘cut off information about the vibrant musical culture that courses through New Orleans, from Carnival to funeral processions,’ said Nick Spitzer, a producer and host of the public radio show ‘American Routes’ who was instrumental in the park’s creation. A handful of sites connected to rivers are also under threat, including the visitor centers for Nebraska’s Niobrara National Scenic River and the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, which is housed in the Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul.” [Washington Post, 3/6/25]

Over 74,000 visitors entered the Niobrara River through the park service visitor center in 2024. “When Sändra Washington visited the Niobrara River with her NPS colleagues shortly after Congress bestowed its designation as a national scenic river in 1991, she found the town of Valentine a bit sleepy. Today, the Sandhills city is a regional tourist destination with hotels, canoe outfitters, a boutique, a bookstore and a local brewery clustered around Main Street. The Park Service’s steady presence along the river helped that growth, said Washington, a retired NPS associate regional director and current Lincoln city council member. Last year, more than 74,000 visitors entered the park — up from 54,000 in 2004, according to NPS records.” [Flatwater Free Press, 3/14/25]
Niobrara Visitor Center is the “scenic river’s headquarters, and National Park Service staff work out of the building year round.” “The visitor center, busier in the summer, features exhibits about the river’s ecology and history, a small theater and a few shelves of souvenirs for sale. It’s also the scenic river’s headquarters, and National Park Service staff work out of the building year round. Last month, Johnson received a short email from the General Services Administration that could spell the end of the Park Service’s 13-year tenancy. It said the lease would be terminated Sept. 30 — about 15 months before it was set to expire. Johnson said he’s still not sure whether the agency will actually move out, but if they do, he thinks it would be a major blow to Valentine.” [Flatwater Free Press, 3/14/25]

Utah

National Park Service budget cuts led to the indefinite closure of “one of the most coveted hikes in the country” at the Fiery Furnace hike located within Arches National Park in Utah. “One of the most coveted hikes in the country has closed indefinitely, the Utah national park said in a recent announcement. The closure is likely due to President Donald Trump’s administration’s layoffs. Arches National Park announced it will not offer ranger-led tours or issue self-guided permits to visitors to go through Fiery Furnace ‘until further notice,’ and said the area is temporarily closed in an alert on March 23. The alert is also posted at the top of a web page with information about ranger-led programs and Fiery Furnace hikes. The alert does not offer any information about if or when the area will reopen to permit-holders and ranger-led tours. ‘We look forward to offering these services soon,’ it says. Fiery Furnace is a maze-like cluster of ‘irregular and broken sandstone…narrow ledges above drop-offs,’ and loose sand, the web page says.” [Sacramento Bee, 3/27/25]

Arches National Park also announced it was removing garbage cans and picnic tables to “reduce maintenance workloads” amid staffing and funding shortages. “A beloved area at Arches National Park in Utah was closed indefinitely amid budget cuts to the National Park Service. On Sunday, the Arches National Park in Moab, Utah, announced it will not have any ranger-led tours or issue self-guided permits to go through Fiery Furnace. When it is open, the park requires visitors to obtain a permit, only 75 are given per day, or sign up for a ranger-guided tour to enter the area. While it is not a hiking trail, it is a popular area to hike in the park. The park did not state when, or if, the change would be reversed. ‘We look forward to offering these services soon,’ it stated. The park also announced it would be removing garbage cans and picnic tables to ‘reduce maintenance workloads,’ according to a different announcement listed on its website. The changes come as President Donald Trump’s administration makes budget cuts to the National Park Service. USA TODAY contacted Arches National Park, which declined to comment on the closure.” [USA Today, 3/31/25]

Connecticut

Connecticut’s vast network of state parks relied on grants administered by the National Park Service for “critical repairs and infrastructure improvement projects.” “As President Donald Trump reshapes the federal government, leading to unprecedented cuts to the National Park Service, Connecticut’s thousands of acres of state parks and forests also remain vulnerable to the chopping block. […] Connecticut’s 120 state parks and forests remain vulnerable to federal grant cuts, according to the state’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The Land and Water Conservation Fund, which is administered federally through the National Park Service, supports local-led outdoor recreation projects across the country by providing matching grants to state and local governments. That fund, which was created in 1965, could be on the chopping block as the Trump administration doubles down on National Park Service funding cuts. ‘In recent years, Connecticut has focused this funding on critical repairs and infrastructure improvement projects to support public outdoor recreation at many of our 120 state park and forest facilities,’ said a spokesperson with DEEP.” [Hartford Current, 3/10/25]

NPS grant funding to the Connecticut Forest and Park Association (CFPA) was frozen in early 2025, which the organization uses to “support essential work” in trail maintenance, safety equipment, and education. “CFPA launched the Blue-Blazed Hiking Trail System in 1929 as a new way to explore and appreciate Connecticut’s forests, according to the group. The trails are hosted on 825 miles of private, town and state lands stretching across 96 towns, and include the nation’s newest National Scenic Trail, the New England Trail. The New England Trail cuts through the state from the Long Island Sound up to the Massachusetts border and is one of the most popular hiking trails in Connecticut. The trail logs thousands of visitors each year, according to the group. ‘As a nonprofit partner of the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service, CFPA receives federal funding support to care for the trails and forests you love. These funds support essential work — maintaining trails, training volunteers, providing safety equipment, building bridges and educating future stewards of our natural world,’ the nonprofit said in a statement. ‘While it’s been reported that the federal funding freeze has been lifted, our funding from these programs remains uncertain.’” [Hartford Current, 3/10/25]

Tennessee

Six of 10 campgrounds at Great Smoky Mountains National Park were closed as the Park faced staffing shortages and funding limits under the Trump administration. “Six out of 10 campgrounds at Great Smoky Mountains National Park are closed as the spring season approaches. And that’s not the only change coming to the Smokies, as national parks across the country adjust to abrupt staffing and organizational shifts because of Trump administration orders and court rulings. At least 12 staffers had been let go from the Smokies after the administration directed the National Park Service to fire 1,000 employees. Although federal judges ruled the firings were illegal and the employees should be reinstated − and that seasonal employees could be hired − typical Smokies programming has already been affected. In addition to campgrounds, popular picnic areas are closed, and vehicle-free days in Cades Cove have been postponed.” [Knoxville News Sentinel, 3/21/25]

The cuts came as Great Smoky Mountains had 12.2 million visitors in 2024, the most of any park in the National Par Service system. “The federal cuts are also coming as park visitation has exploded over the last decade. Numbers from the National Park Service show Great Smoky Mountains had 12.2 million visitors in 2024, the most of any park in the system. That’s up from a little more than 9 million visitors a decade ago. WRAL took employee and advocate concerns to the National Park Service and Department of the Interior. So far, neither agency has responded to a request for comment.” [WRAL, 3/12/25]
Staffing needs for Great Smoky Mountains National Park have only increased due to damages cause by Hurricane Helene. “The staffing needs for local national parks have only increased due to the damage caused by Helene. Hunter says three campgrounds are closed in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park due to damages and a number of additional campgrounds are administratively closed. The park is still accessing damage but some trails are closed including Laurel Falls Trail which closed Jan. 6, for about 18 months of rehabilitation work. Here’s a list of closures.” [Blue Ridge Public Radio, 4/2/25]

Rhode Island

Protestors in Rhode Island called on the federal government to rehire National Park Service employees at the Roger Williams National Memorial, a Park Service site in Providence. “Protesters are calling on the federal government to rehire recently fired National Park Service employees. Demonstrators met at the Roger Williams National Memorial in Providence on Saturday. Providence protesters held signs and chanted, joining a nationwide call to action. They’re demanding a reversal of the Trump administration’s firings of thousands of employees who worked at public lands and parks around the United States.” [NBC 10 News, 3/1/25]

Rhode Island report stated it had lost or was at risk of losing over $90 million in federal dollars due to the Trump administration’s cuts. “With the potential for much deeper cuts in federal funding emerging daily, the McKee Administration has pieced together a status report on the potential $91.6 million in federal dollars the state has lost, or is in danger of losing, so far. And if Congressional Republicans slash Medicaid spending, Rhode Island, and a third of its population, hasn’t seen the last of it. ‘As you know, this continues to be an evolving situation with the state’s ability to access certain funding changing regularly,’ Department of Administration spokesman Derek Gomes told The Journal late last week in response to an inquiry about how much money that state agencies expected has been frozen or terminated by the federal government” [Providence Journal, 4/2/25]

Research: Trump Administration Proposes Deep Cuts