Facing criticism for nationwide staff reductions, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has instructed national parks to “remain open and accessible” with assurances of adequate staffing to maintain operations. The directive, issued late Thursday, mandates a comprehensive review of each park’s operating hours, trail closures, and limits on visitor services.
The department, along with the National Park Service, emphasized its commitment to providing all Americans with opportunities to experience the country’s most cherished sites. However, park advocates and others have raised concerns about the feasibility of this directive in light of workforce reductions under the Trump administration, which included voluntary separations, layoffs, and a previous hiring freeze.
These workforce reductions have reportedly resulted in approximately 1,500 permanent employees leaving the park service since the year’s start. The organization is preparing for an anticipated further reduction, as noted by Rick Mossman, president of the Arizona-based Association of National Park Rangers.
In response to public outcry over aggressive downsizing plans, the administration reinstated around 50 national park positions and employed some seasonal workers. A judge’s order recently allowed more workers to return, though some opted to leave federal employment or were placed on administrative leave.
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Republican Representative Bruce Westerman of Arkansas, chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources, commended the order, stating it would help parks meet their mission as summer approaches, attracting millions of visitors globally. Conversely, Jennifer Rokala, executive director of the Denver-based Center for Western Priorities, criticized the mandate, arguing it imposes an unattainable task on parks without adequate personnel and resources.
Rokala condemned the order as a superficial effort to placate public anger over alleged damages to national parks and the local economies that rely on them. She also warned that this plan might exclude park superintendents and the public from future park management decisions, potentially leaving the public uninformed about significant operational choices.
The order highlighted that national parks received over 331 million visitors last year, supported by more than 20,000 employees and 300,000 volunteers.
Closing Insights
Efforts to maintain park accessibility amidst workforce reductions may strain remaining staff and could impact job satisfaction and safety for park employees.
The mandate to keep national parks open could impact local economies reliant on tourism, potentially increasing visitor numbers despite staffing concerns.
Reduced staff may lead to diminished park services, affecting visitor experience with longer waits, limited access, and maintenance issues.
The potential exclusion of park superintendents and the public from decision-making processes might alter park management, possibly leading to less transparency.
Communities near national parks could face economic challenges if reduced staffing results in fewer tourists or a decline in park conditions.
