Half Dome in Yosemite National Park
Sierra Sun Times file photo
February 3, 2025 - As the current Administration moves to eliminate federal jobs, Phil Francis, Chair of the Executive Council of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, issued the following statement:
“Our members represent more than 50,000 years of collective service to our national parks. As current and former National Park Service (NPS) employees and volunteers, we have dedicated ourselves to protecting these treasured places. We are deeply concerned about the devastating impact that proposed federal workforce cuts will have on our national parks.
National parks are already critically understaffed. Since 2010, NPS staffing levels have declined by thousands of positions, even as park visitation has increased by over 40 million visitors annually. NPS employees across the country have been forced to do more with less while still protecting resources and providing meaningful visitor experiences.
Now, seasonal and permanent NPS jobs have been rescinded or delayed, with thousands of additional positions at risk of elimination. The busy season is closing in on many parks. Without sufficient staffing, national parks cannot function well. It takes time to recruit, hire, and place seasonals in the parks. That process should be underway now. The consequences will be severe: visitor centers will close, lines will grow longer, and basic maintenance—such as cleaning restrooms and facilities—will suffer. Millions of Americans who cherish their national parks may find them inaccessible, poorly maintained, or unsafe.
To our NPS employees – we hear you, we see you, and we stand with you. We must prioritize our national parks and the dedicated professionals who care for them. Every day, National Park Service employees fulfill their oath to “faithfully discharge the duties” of their positions, safeguarding these irreplaceable landscapes and ensuring they remain open for all Americans. It is our duty to support, protect, and respect them for their invaluable service to our country.”
The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks represents over 3,200 current, former, and retired employees and volunteers of the National Park Service, with over 50,000 collective years of stewardship of America’s most precious natural and cultural resources. Recognized as the Voices of Experience, the Coalition educates, speaks, and acts for the preservation and protection of the National Park System, and mission-related programs of the National Park Service. More information can be found at https://protectnps.org
Source: The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks