A frozen Mirror Lake in Yosemite in Winter Sierra Sun Times file photo
December 18, 2025 - In response to Chairman Mike Lee advancing a proposal that could green-light the selling off, transferring and giving away of national parks, Emily Thompson, Executive Director of the Coalition To Protect America’s National Park, an organization made up of former and retired national park leaders, issued the following statement:
“Chairman Lee’s proposal could gut national parks and end the National Park Service as we know it. It could destroy more than 150 years of progress in establishing, protecting, and advancing national parks in this country. This proposal is more than just wrongheaded, it is flat out dangerous. Senators must vote ‘no’ on this amendment and once again take a bipartisan stand against selling off our national treasures to the highest bidder.
“This continues a pattern we have seen from the Administration that has left our national parks understaffed, underfunded, and in crisis.
“Anyone who has visited a national park or plans to in the future should be gravely concerned about the efforts of Chairman Lee and the Trump Administration. We encourage you to reach out to your senators and stand with national parks and those who steward them. Our National Park System should be treasured and protected, not gutted and sold for parts.”
Related: National Parks Conservation Association Calls On U.S. Senators to Oppose Republican Senator Mike Lee’s Amendment Greenlighting the Sale of National Parks
The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks represents over 3,400 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: Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks
