Trump policies affect travel around California and the U.S.

Los Angeles Times

7 days ago

In the wake of multiple plane crashes, and amid erratic federal polices and denials and detentions at border crossings, summer travel in the U.S. is in an uneasy state.
The Golden State is seeing a decline in tourism as international visits are expected to drop 9.2% throughout the year, with international spending anticipated to drop 4.2%, according to a forecast published last month by state tourism organization Visit California and Tourism Economics.
Earlier this spring, the desert towns of Coachella Valley — a favorite destination for Canadian snowbirds — braced for a major financial blow as residents of the Great White North canceled flights, ditched hotel and Airbnb reservations and put their stateside second homes up for sale, citing President Trump's aggression toward Canada.
Now that summer is almost here, my colleague Michael Wilner breaks down some of the travel disruptions that have given U.S. officials and industry experts pause, concerned with the economic consequences of a slower summer season.
National park cuts could affect visitor experiences
At the start of the year, thousands of seasonal park workers were told they wouldn't be hired in the spring. After public outcry, Trump ditched the effort a month later.
But more than 700 park service employees did accept buyouts, leaving fewer workers to collect entrance fees, clean toilets or help with search-and-rescue efforts.
Cassidy Jones, senior visitation program manager at the National Parks Conservation Assn., told Michael that cuts to the parks are tangible and will directly affect visitors' experience over the coming months, despite efforts by leadership at the Department of the Interior to paper over the cracks.
'There may be fewer entrance gates open,' Jones said. 'People should plan ahead and remember to be helpful park visitors. Take the optional shuttle. Come with supplies with you, as some facilities may be closed at hours you're not expecting, because they don't have the staff to keep them open. Toilets may not be unwinterized yet if they're in cold places.'
In April, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum issued an order directing that national parks be 'open and accessible' through the summer season, as fears grew that staffing cuts implemented by the administration could become apparent.
Still, the White House cuts and hiring freezes severely disrupted a seasonal hiring and training cadence for park rangers that usually begins around Christmas, Jones said.
Travelers should expect flight disruptions
The Department of Government Efficiency under Trump eliminated hundreds of positions at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, including at the National Weather Service, and is proposing a 25% cut in the agency's budget.
As a result, flight delays will be felt by travelers sooner rather than later, said Rick Spinrad, who served as administrator of NOAA under President Biden.
'In the short term, this summer, when people are doing longer traveling, we may see a degradation of services,' Spinrad said. 'You may see more delayed flights, more weather-impacted flights.'
But Spinrad's concern is that the cuts to NOAA soon will be felt more deeply at the local level, among the emergency managers, local transportation departments and public health centers that count on reliable forecasts to map out their work.
All is not lost, however.
The state can't rely on welcoming people from other states and countries right now, but as Visit California notes, the Golden State's 40 million residents are also important contributors to the state's tourism economy.
Now is the perfect time for Californians to explore their own backyard and travel in state.
Today's great photo is from Times photojournalism intern Luke Johnson, who was at Angel Stadium for a Savannah Bananas game for which tickets cost more than a Dodgers-Yankees rematch.
Kevinisha Walker, multiplatform editorAndrew Campa, Sunday writerKarim Doumar, head of newsletters
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