On Feb. 14, as part of an extensive budget cut, the Trump Administration directed numerous layoffs in the National Parks Service and US Forest Service. According to The Guardian, 3,400 U.S. Forest Service employees were terminated, with an additional 1,000 National Parks Service employees ranging from park rangers and search and rescue crews to campsite monitors and trail crews being laid off.
Independent advocacy groups, such as the National Parks Conservation Association, have been quick to caution of the potential detrimental effects of these layoffs. According to the NPCA, cuts could cause possible damage to ecosystems and impact wildlife protection. Additionally, the organization says visitors could see a decrease in visit quality with overgrown trails, uncleaned bathrooms and extra trash or debris. In a statement regarding downsizing, NPCA senior vice president of government affairs Kristen Brengal said the visit quality would be below that of previous years.
“Weakening the National Park System risks irreversible damage to America’s greatest legacy. Parks are supposed to be where people can experience the best of America, but these cuts put all of that at risk. Enough is enough. The administration must halt this reckless downsizing before it guts our national parks beyond repair,” Brengel said.
Senior Ruby Walker, a frequent visitor to national parks, said her experience with the staff has been amazing. She remembers tour guides at Mammoth Cave National Park being very knowledgeable and charismatic but, most importantly, equally as excited to be going in the caves as she was.
“I feel angry and worried [about the layoffs]. It’s so anxiety-inducing to think that the Trump administration is using its power like this,” Walker said. “Their motives are obvious: they want to profit off the land and have no regard for the sanctity of the earth.”
Because of concerns similar to Walker’s, former and current employees have begun protesting. Many have taken to social media to express their disdain for the firings and voice the potential consequences of a smaller staff.
Additionally, former Yosemite National Park employees captured national attention by hanging an upside-down American flag on the side of El Capitan in protest of the layoffs. The unique display of the American Flag is traditionally a sign of “dire distress”.
While these protests have captured attention, AP Environmental Science teacher Julie Schwarting said change is going to be the product of many people spreading information about a common issue.
Following the firings, two U.S District Courts ruled that the administration must reinstate the 1,000 former National Parks Service probationary employees.
