Struggling National Parks in America faced with extended queues and scientists forced to clean restrooms due to substantial workforce reduction following Trump's large-scale dismissals.
The National Park Service (NPS) has been facing significant challenges due to the Trump administration's budget cuts and staff reductions. The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), an independent non-profit organisation dedicated to protecting America's National Parks and their staff, has expressed concern over the impact these changes are having on the service.
Staffing Shortages
Since January 2025, the NPS has seen a reduction of roughly 24-25% in permanent staff, equating to the loss of about 4,000 employees. This reduction has affected maintenance, scientific research, emergency response, law enforcement, and custodial positions across parks nationwide. For example, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park was unable to fill 24 of its 74 positions, and Gateway National Recreation Area lacked sufficient lifeguards, leaving some beaches without coverage.
Visitor Experience
The cuts have led to reduced visitor services, canceled educational programs, and diminished maintenance of facilities, impacting the quality and safety of park visits. Overcrowding at popular parks like Mammoth Cave is occurring without adequate staffing to properly manage visitor needs or provide emergency support. Beaches without lifeguards reduce safety, while delayed maintenance and fewer park personnel make the overall visitor experience less enjoyable and potentially hazardous.
Conservation Efforts
These staff and budget cuts threaten the NPS's ability to protect natural and cultural resources. Deferred maintenance projects now total around $100 million, compromising infrastructure and potentially damaging park ecosystems. The reduction in personnel hinders wildlife management, air and water quality monitoring, cultural preservation programs, and wildfire response.
Budget Cuts
The 2026 budget proposed by the administration calls for over $1 billion in cuts to NPS overall, including a 31% cut ($900 million) to park operations—the largest in history—which would force elimination of staffing and funding for approximately 350 park sites and reduce the National Park System by more than 75%. Additional cuts include $73 million to park construction, $77 million to recreation and preservation, and $197 million to the Historic Preservation Fund.
A Call to Action
NPCA President Theresa Pierno has called these cuts an "all-out assault on America’s national parks," severely undermining their mission and future sustainability. Garder, an advocate for the NPCA, remains deeply concerned about the service's future under the Trump administration due to the proposed budget cut and the administration's perceived assault on the NPS. Garder encourages Americans to express outrage and for the administration and Congress to listen to their concerns regarding the future of the National Park Service.
Despite the challenges, camping sites are one of the few areas where the parks are just about coping, with the rehiring of some seasonal staff helping to open up campgrounds. However, visitors are still facing long lines, reduced opening hours, and other issues due to insufficient staff. Internal NPS data reported by NPCA suggests that the parks have only hired around half of the usual number of temporary employees.
In a positive development, Congress has marked up the NPS budget with a restored funding of $3.1 billion, which would essentially keep funding the same as this year. This could help alleviate some of the burdens faced by the parks and ensure the continued protection and preservation of America's national parks.
- The staff shortages in the National Park Service (NPS) due to budget cuts and staff reductions have negatively impacted environmental-science research and corresponding health-and-wellness initiatives in parks, such as less supervision for wildlife management and reduced monitoring of air and water quality.
- With environmental-science research and workplace-wellness initiatives being affected by the NPS's budget cuts, it is crucial for the Trump administration and Congress to consider the long-term consequences of these reductions and prioritize restoring funding to ensure the sustainable future of America's National Parks.
