About 1,000 newly hired National Park Service (NPS) employees were laid off in mid-February, just weeks before the start of the busy season at many of the 63 national parks.
The layoffs were part of a broader federal workforce reduction initiative by the Department of Government Efficiency, led by President Trump and adviser Elon Musk. As a result, many national parks remained understaffed, following a previous 15% decrease in full-time employees in 2022.
The staffing shortage added challenges to an already complex system. Reductions in personnel resulted in fewer rangers, limited operating hours, and increased wait times. The decrease in essential staff prompted concerns about park operations and maintenance. For example, Mount Rainier National Park in Washington reported the loss of its only plumber.
“We’ve heard that Mount Rainier National Park in Washington lost its only plumber. So if there’s a water emergency, who handles it?” said Bill Wade, executive director of the Association of National Park Rangers, in an interview with Katie Couric Media.
The effects of the layoffs were visible across a range of parks. Larger parks like Yellowstone and smaller ones like Zion National Park reported staffing challenges. At Grand Canyon National Park, only one entrance lane remained open—down from the usual two or three—after the park lost multiple employees who staffed entrance stations and collected fees. The change led to longer lines and increased wait times.
Another concern tied to reduced staffing was the impact on wildlife safety and care. Massimiliano Berti, senior environmental science major, emphasized the role of national parks in conservation efforts.
“National parks are critical for the well-being of wildlife and ecosystems because they provide protected habitats where species can thrive without negative human interference, like urbanization and deforestation,” Berti said. “Fewer park rangers and staff can severely inhibit conservation efforts, since they keep national parks safe from illegal activities such as poaching and logging and put a lot of effort into ecosystem health by managing invasive species, monitoring wildlife health, etc.”
Visitors also expressed concern about how staffing shortages affected their experience. Reduced cleanliness and limited communication services impacted the overall atmosphere of the parks.
Drew Hopkins, sophomore nursing major, who enjoys visiting national parks, noted the effects of the layoffs on the visitor experience.
“I think reduced staffing will affect the parks heavily because there is a lot of regulation and care that they provide,” Hopkins said. “People don’t treat national parks with as much care as they should, resulting in leftover trash at hiking trails and campsites that would normally be picked up by the park staff. They also make the place more lively and run well. When there’s no one there to help keep the place active, it makes it feel run down and less cared for. It’s also nice for visitors to know where they’re going, and if there are no people to point directions or know the park well, it significantly decreases the quality of the visitor experience.”
Although the Associated Press reported that NPS had restored some of the terminated positions, concerns remained. It was still unclear how national parks would manage with reduced staff as the peak summer season approached.
