Trump’s Walk in the Park Turns Into a Stumble
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
When Republicans talk about reining in federal spending, Democrats tend to get hysterical about the future of America’s national parks. This time the administration’s opponents have latched onto some accurate criticisms. Donald Trump ’s hiring freeze came at a bad moment, just when the park service needed to hire temporary summer workers, and DOGE’s reforms have left some parks in disarray.
The only pilot for Alaska’s roughly 14-million-acre Wrangell-St. Elias park was fired, according to Bill Wade, executive director of the Association of National Park Rangers. Washington’s Mount Rainier National Park lost its only plumber. Supporters of Pennsylvania’s Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site are begging for donations to feed its sheep and red devon steers.
The National Park Service has struggled for decades. According to congressional reports, even before Mr. Trump took office America’s national parks had billions of dollars in deferred maintenance of crumbling roads, outdated facilities and unrepaired trails. Intelligent budget cuts and a complete reordering of the Park Service budget is long overdue and would serve Mr. Trump’s agenda well in future years.
The Park Service’s problems require a scalpel, but the administration’s efforts have been a hammer. If American vacationers have their summers ruined by chaos at the nation’s parks, they’ll blame the president.
Take DOGE’s $1 spending limit on most government-issued credit cards. According to former officials, many parks in recent years spent through such cards instead of normal procurements. That can be fixed in future years, but for now some parks aren’t able to get supplies for the summer: broken window fixings, toilet paper, water filters.
Or consider the ping-ponging of employees this year. On Jan. 20 the president implemented a governmental hiring freeze. In response the Park Service canceled more than 2,000 job openings. On Jan. 28 the administration offered buyouts, which more than 700 park employees took. Then, on Feb. 14, the Park Service fired 1,000 probationary employees, often dubbed the “Valentine’s Day massacre.” Judge William Alsup of the Northern District of California ordered them hired back on March 13. This week the Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to hear an appeal. All of this has left Park Service staff demoralized and uncertain.
On Feb. 18, the administration exempted 7,700 seasonal jobs from the hiring freeze, higher than the average of 6,350 in recent years, which could alleviate some of the turmoil. The test will come this summer, as tourists arrive at park-service sites from Maine’s Acadia National Park to California’s Channel Islands. The number of recreational visits at U.S. national parks is nearly 16% higher than in 2010, while staffing has dropped 12%, and the current staffing confusion may expose the longstanding problems.
“This is going to be a difficult year,” says Daniel Wenk, a former superintendent of Yellowstone National Park, but he wonders how much everything in the news will actually affect tourists. “I hope it goes without a hitch.”
Phil Francis, a former superintendent of the Blue Ridge Parkway, adds, “I’m not sure everything that’s been said is going to happen will happen.” But the situation is “still chaotic, and there’s confusion,” with different offices “handling the same situation in a little different ways. We don’t know where the priorities will be.”
Cheryl Schreier, a former superintendent of Mount Rushmore, says one reason for the chaos is that “in the Midwest region, there are only three people that have credit cards that they can actually purchase items with.”
Asked for comment, the National Park Service replied that it is “committed to advancing the Trump administration’s priorities of fiscal responsibility, operational efficiency, and government accountability.” But it also warned, “It’s always a good idea to leave your trip plan with a trusted friend,” who can “let authorities know if they haven’t heard from you.” Sound advice, especially this year.
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A good friend works pretty high up in the National Parks service. He’s not happy about how this is coming down but agree’s …. a house cleaning it WAY overdue. Very much so ….
That said, only Canada can prevent Canadian wildfires that destroy our air quality down here in Michigan.
So get on it this year little brother …..
i predict an onslaught of Canadian Arsonists, even though it was Trump who fired the first extinguisher
Sounds about right for left wing loons. Canadian or otherwise …..
So glad I have a toilet and shower in my camper