Thousands Fired from U.S. Forest and National Park Services
With peak travel approaching, President Trump’s push for federal spending cuts resulted in the termination of roughly 4,400 new hires between the U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service (NPS)—3,400 at the Forest Service and 1,000 at the NPS. At the same time, the Department of the Interior will be reinstating around 5,000 seasonal job offers that were rescinded last month during the early stages of Trump’s federal hiring freeze, according to the advocacy group National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA).
“Allowing parks to hire seasonal staff is essential, but staffing cuts of this magnitude will have devastating consequences for parks and communities,” Theresa Pierno, president and CEO of the NPCA said in a press release. “We are concerned about smaller parks closing visitor center doors and larger parks losing key staff including wastewater treatment operators.”
According to Pierno, years of budget shortfalls have already put a strain on the agencies, and with the boost national parks and public lands give local economies, the ripple effect will be detrimental to surrounding communities. The cuts terminate over 10% of the Forest Service’s workforce and roughly 5% of NPS’s. The NPS reported 325.5 million recreational visitors in 2023 with roughly 20,000 permanent, temporary, and seasonal employees working to service those vistors—a ratio gap that was wide before the cutbacks.
Stunned former employees like Brian Gibbs, a park ranger laid off last week from his post at Effigy Mounds National Monument, shared reactions online.
“I am the smiling face that greets you at the front door,” Gibbs stated in a widely shared viral post on Facebook. “I am your family vacation planner, I am a voice for 19 American Indian cultures…I am the defender of your public lands and waters…I am an invocation for peace…I am absolutely heartbroken and completely devastated to have lost my dream job.”
Balsam Gap Property Along Blue Ridge Parkway Secured For Conservation
Following a 25-plus-year effort, Virginia-based environmental group the Conservation Fund recently bought a key 3,850-acre property along the Blue Ridge Parkway in western North Carolina’s Balsam Gap. The acquisition is part of a larger conservation effort to connect over 770,000 acres of land to protect forests, biodiversity, and clean water. The area is a major economic driver for local counties, due to its proximity to the parkway, which sees millions of annual visitors.
“Protecting Balsam Gap isn’t just about preserving nature; it’s also about supporting the local community,” the Conservation Fund stated in a press release. “In the wake of Hurricane Helene’s damage to the region, conservation projects like this are more important than ever for rebuilding the local economy.”
Kentucky State Parks Offer Temporary Shelters For Those Displaced by Floods
In response to last weekend’s devastating flooding in eastern Kentucky and southern West Virginia, Kentucky State Parks announced that they are offering shelters for those displaced by the natural disaster. An estimated 40,000 people are still without electricity and water due to the flooding that claimed 15 lives in Kentucky, according to Gov. Andy Beshear.
“Our team is here for you…Kentucky State Parks are open and ready to assist those displaced by the devastating flooding,” a representative for the park system wrote on Instagram, where they list which parks are able to take victims. “We’re in this together, and we’re committed to helping our communities through these challenging times.”
According to the National Weather Service, some of the areas affected saw over six inches of rain with multiple river sites reaching record levels of flooding.
Cover photo: Yosemite National Park. Photo courtesy of Getty Images by Devon Wolfhart.
