There have already been massive cuts that are already having real-world consequences. The NPS has begun laying off hundreds of employees, cutting more than 1,100 full-time positions, which is over 10% of the NPS workforce.. Many of those losing their jobs are seasonal workers, which are the people who guide visitors, protect wildlife, maintain trails, and keep parks running smoothly during peak months.
These layoffs and funding reductions will limit public access to parks across the country’s 429 national park units, reduce educational programs, and delay or cancel urgently needed repairs to roads, trails, and visitor centers. Already, the Park Service faces a staggering $22 billion maintenance backlog and with less funding and fewer workers, that gap will only grow.
“This is the most extreme, unrealistic and destructive National Park Service budget a President has ever proposed in the agency’s 109-year history,” said Theresa Pierno, president of the National Parks Conservation Association. “It’s nothing less than an all-out assault on America’s national parks.”
The Trump administration’s plan also calls for severe cuts to programs that preserve historic landmarks and support local communities through conservation grants, such as the Historic Preservation Fund and Land and Water Conservation Fund. These programs help protect everything from Civil Rights-era churches to Indigenous heritage sites and urban green spaces.
The timing of these cuts couldn’t be worse. National parks are under increasing pressure from climate change, severe wildfires, overcrowding, and aging infrastructure. Park visitation has soared in recent years, with more than 300 million visitors annually, making the need for support and staffing even more urgent. At the same time the NPS is being asked to do more with less, the administration is increasing investments in border enforcement and energy development on public lands.
In a public statement, Pierno said: “This proposal strikes at the heart of who we are as a nation. NPCA and our millions of supporters are ready to fight back: for our parks, for our history and for our future.”
In order to fight back, the Evangelical Environment Network (EEN) has a page dedicated to more information related to the selling of public land, as well as a page to message representatives in Congress. Email your representative today!