350 National Park Sites May Close, Advocacy Group Says
Clouds surround the super flower moon rising above rocks and Joshua trees in California's Joshua Tree National Park in 2021. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
The Trump administration's proposed budget cuts will be catastrophic and decimate America's cherished national parks, a parks advocacy group says.
'Proposed cuts of this magnitude could shutter at least 350 national parks sites across the country, effectively more than 75% of our park system,' says Theresa Pierno, the president and CEO of the National Parks Conservation Association. 'This proposal is an all-out assault on America's national parks.'
This journalist repeatedly contacted the National Park Service for comment about proposed cutbacks and received no response. The email link for media on the federal government website didn't work, and an email sent to Angela Gonzales, who is listed as the associate director of communications, went unanswered. Phone calls to the agency rang without a person answering, and, when an answering machine eventually kicked in, it didn't identify the agency. The answering machine said, 'Please leave a message for,' and then went blank until a beep to leave a message.
The National Parks Conservation Association says the Trump administration's budget proposal calls for a cut of more than $1 billion to the National Park Service, including a $900 million cut to parks' operations. Such a cut would be the largest proposed cut in the park service's 109-year history, the association says.
Besides the proposed $900 million cutback to parks' operations, the proposed budget would eliminate $73 million to park construction funding, $77 million to recreation and preservation funding and $197 million to historic preservation funding, the advocacy group says.
Despite the national parks' 'soaring popularity and the economic and cultural value they provide,' the Trump administration 'continues to systematically dismantle the Park Service — freezing hiring, forcing resignations, eliminating purchasing ability, canceling leases and banning travel,' the group says.
With a proposed future workforce reduction, 'the worst is yet to come,' the association says.
National Park Service ranger Jill Staurowsky looks out from the South Rim while giving a tour to visitors in February at Grand Canyon, Arizona. (Photo by) Getty Images
'The president's proposed budget plan is beyond extreme,' Pierno says. 'It is catastrophic. Every action taken so far by this administration has chipped away at national parks and their staff, but this budget is the final blow. If enacted by Congress, our national park system would be completely decimated.'
The National Park Service website says 'national parks contain many of our nation's most treasured landscapes, from the majestic mountain ranges of Alaska to the vast prairies of the Everglades.'
A review of the website by this journalist shows a lack of practical information for people who wish to visit the nation's 433 national park units. The website has a 'Frequently Asked Questions' page that is blank. Another page for national parks' events provides no information.
The National Parks Service is an agency within the Department of the Interior. An Interior Department spokesperson provided the following response in late March to Newsweek.
"The National Park Service is hiring seasonal workers to continue enhancing the visitor experience as we embrace new opportunities for optimization and innovation in workforce management. We are focused on ensuring that every visitor has the chance to explore and connect with the incredible, iconic spaces of our national parks. NPS is working closely with the Office of Personnel Management to ensure we are prioritizing fiscal responsibility for the American people. As always, NPS will continue to provide critical services and deliver excellent customer service.'
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