By: Kat Littfin
News Editor
President Donald Trump’s governmental budget cuts have led to a cut off of funding for the long-standing national parks system. In turn, thousands of national parks workers were laid off beginning in February, creating widespread anger and protest among former employees, environmentalists, and frequenters of the parks.
Former United States President Theodore Roosevelt was a major proponent of the national parks, influenced by famous naturalist John Muir. Inspired by Roosevelt, President Woodrow Wilson signed an act in 1916 formally establishing the national park system. Since then, the 63 national parks across the US have been an important part of American culture, tourism, and environmentalism. The national parks employ approximately 20 thousand workers nationwide and are otherwise staffed by volunteers. According to the National Parks Service, in 2023 the parks contributed about 55.6 billion dollars to the United States economy, aiding many state and local economies, and supporting roughly 415 thousand jobs (including workers not employed by the national parks). The service is highly regarded among American citizens; however, it is considered non-essential by the government, resulting in layoffs and severe budget cuts.
The cuts, announced on Feb. 15, resulted in about five percent of workers being laid off. Since the changes were enacted, parkgoers have reported longer lines to enter parks, reduced visitor center hours, public facilities in poor condition, and closure of several trails. The cuts Trump’s Administration made to the National Parks Service are due to the President’s effort to examine government spending and eliminate spending in sectors he deems non-essential. Despite the backlash the President and his colleagues have faced, mostly from Democrats and progressives due to the controversial and possibly unconstitutional freezing of government spending, the Senate has passed a bill allowing Trump to continue his actions.
Since February, both national park supporters and those impacted by layoffs have responded angrily to Trump’s decision to cut national park spending. Current and former employees have voiced their outrage and supporters of the National Parks have staged several protests outside of the parks. Aaron Weiss, the deputy director of a public lands advocacy group stated, “I don’t know whether we’ll see overflowing latrines, polluted streams, or deadly wildfires first…These terminations are foolish, heartless, and do nothing to make the government more efficient.” Other advocacy groups such as the National Parks Conservation Association have hired old national parks employees and continue to resist the termination of spending towards the National Parks Service.
(Sources: BBC, USA Today, Wikipedia)