National park employees serve as the guardians of the United States’ natural treasures, ensuring these iconic landscapes remain healthy, well maintained and functional. These workers also play crucial roles in educating the public about the historical and ecological significance of the natural environment in the U.S.
Under the Trump administration, however, thousands of these essential employees have been dismissed in an effort to slash federal spending through the new Department of Government Efficiency, raising concerns about the future of the parks. According to the Center for American Progress, an estimated 2,300 employees from the Department of the Interior, 1,000 National Park Service staff members and 3,400 U.S.
Forest Service employees were let go in mid-February. This week, a federal court case ordered the Trump administration to reinstate jobs for thousands of probationary workers — though it is not known if that includes staff working in parks. Also in late February, according to The Associated Press, the National Park Service pledged to hire 3,000 more seasonal employees this year than usual — a surprising reversal to the trend of cuts.
Either way, as the National Park Service faces a purge of staff and uncertainties around employment, the repercussions of job cuts are already beginning to show. With spring and summer approaching, many parks have begun preparations for the influx of visitors. These preparations include operating visitor centers and entrance .
