Latest news with #GrandCanyonConservancy
Axios
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Grand Canyon support surged after Trump's park cuts
National parks have been pulled into a federal political squabble — but the controversy has only made Americans' appreciation for public lands more apparent, Grand Canyon Conservancy CEO Elizabeth Silkes tells Axios. Why it matters: Arizona is home to 25 national parks, monuments, recreation areas and historic sites — generating nearly $2 billion for the state's economy annually. Most notably, Grand Canyon National Park — one of the "seven natural wonders of the world" — attracts nearly 5 million visitors annually and is a major point of pride for the state. The big picture: National parks were one of President Trump's first targets in his mission to cut federal government spending. At least 750 park employees were fired in February, including about 50 in Arizona — though many have been reinstated. The Trump administration also announced plans to terminate nearly three dozen National Park Service leases in the next two years, including a Flagstaff headquarters building that oversees multiple nearby parks, such as Sunset Crater and Walnut Canyon. Zoom in: Silkes, who started with Grand Canyon Conservancy in early February, told us she's seen an overwhelmingly positive response from people who were called to action by the Trump administration's attempts to cut staffing and services. She said many newly involved conservancy supporters said they were inspired to contact elected officials, volunteer and donate to ensure Arizona's most famous park remained funded and protected. What they're saying: "I think this is a moment where many of us across the country are really thinking anew about the role we have as individuals and collectively in protecting spaces that really matter to us," she said. How it works: The conservancy supplements Grand Canyon's federal funding to improve trails, preserve historic structures, support scientific research, host educational programs and more. Between the lines: National parks are immensely popular across the political spectrum. A record 332 million people visited a national park last year. The bottom line: Conservationist and author Wallace Stegner famously called national parks America's "best idea," but Silkes pointed to the often-forgotten second half of his quote: "They reflect us at our best rather than our worst." She said she hopes the "communal awe" many of us feel when visiting the Grand Canyon can serve as a reminder to Americans that we're not as divided as we may seem.
Time Out
22-04-2025
- Time Out
Are national parks open? Yes, and here's why you should visit.
National Park Week kicked off on April 19 with free admission to every site in the National Park System and a week of programming to celebrate these special places. As people start to make their summer plans, many national park visitors will have questions beyond which sites to see or which trail to hike. After a record year for visitorship, February's federal layoffs hit the National Park Service hard, raising concerns about what kind of experience people can expect this summer. The short answer: You can and should visit national parks, but pack your patience along with your sunscreen. Here's what you need to know. Are national parks open? Despite staffing uncertainty, the Department of the Interior has made it clear parks will remain accessible. A directive issued April 3 mandates that parks stay open with posted hours upheld and any changes reviewed at the top. The goal is to preserve access and maintain service, even as the agency recovers. That said, you may notice some gaps—fewer rangers on-site, longer lines at visitor centers or slower updates to park alerts. But behind the scenes, things are improving. The 1,000 probationary staff terminated in February were reinstated after a court ruling, and hiring for seasonal positions is underway. Should I visit national parks right now? Yes. The parks need visitors, and gateway communities—towns and businesses that depend on park tourism—need your support. "It's a perfect time to visit national parks, to show your support for public lands in this country and our shared appreciation for the stories they share," said Elizabeth Silkes, CEO of Grand Canyon Conservancy, the official nonprofit partner of Grand Canyon National Park. "This is a moment to lean into what time spent in nature provides us, and it's also a moment for a new kind of questioning when we are in these spaces: What is our role in protecting them? What can we do to better amplify their needs?" For the best experience, be sure to plan ahead. The National Park Service website offers real-time updates and planning tools, including a "Plan Like a Park Ranger" section and weather alerts. The free NPS app is also essential—you can download maps and guides before you go in case you lose service. National Park week is a great time to visit a national park, but it's also a good time to plan ahead for a summer trip. Your visits are important to help sustain these places. But remember to go with realistic expectations, knowing that things might be a little rough around the edges this year. The parks are still some of the most beautiful, meaningful public spaces in the country, and right now they need you more than ever.
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
How DOGE cuts are jeopardizing our national parks, "America's best idea"
When British novelist J.B. Priestley visited the Grand Canyon in the 1930s, he described it as "all of Beethoven's nine symphonies in stone and magic light." "If I were an American," he wrote, "I should make my remembrance of it the final test of men, art, and policies … Every member or officer of the federal government ought to remind himself, with triumphant pride, that he is on the staff of the Grand Canyon." In February, as part of the Trump Administration's effort to shrink the size of the federal workforce, approximately 1,000 employees were laid off across the Park Service. When the federal government fired some of the Park Service staff who work at the canyon, this was the scene near the South Rim: In the weeks since, there have been protests at hundreds of park service sites, from Acadia to Zion. Jim Landahl worked as a seasonal ranger for years, until he got a promotion to a permanent posting at Grand Canyon six months ago. Then came the termination email. He said it stated that "we lacked the necessary skills, qualifications, fitness to perform this job. And I didn't take that personally at all, because I knew that was a lie. I knew that was false. Whoever wrote that letter wasn't hiking with me down into the canyon in a hundred-degree heat to do our job." Landahl's work involved restoring habitat disturbed by the reconstruction of the park's failing Transcanyon Waterline, which provides water to lodges and other infrastructure. Since he'd been in this position for less than a year, he was classified as a "probationary employee." "The project is a critical infrastructure project for Grand Canyon," said archeologist Leah Gallo. "And without it, there would be pretty much no Grand Canyon." Gallo had only been working on the project for two weeks when she was let go. "I spent pretty much every dime to move here," she said. But this past Thursday, two federal judges ruled that the government must reinstate thousands of fired probationary workers across several agencies, finding that the layoffs were carried out under false pretenses – that performance wasn't a factor. It's currently unclear if and when Park Service staff might be back on the job. Judge orders 6 agencies to rehire fired federal probationary workers after "unlawful" terminations Mindy Riesenberg is the chief of communications for the Grand Canyon Conservancy, a non-profit group that supports the park. As we enter the busy season, she says she's worried about people having to wait in several-hour-long lines just to get into the park. "We had almost five million visitors last year at Grand Canyon," she said. "And now I think we're down to about 11 fee collectors for the South Rim, for five million people a year." When we visited the canyon last weekend, visitors were waiting up to an hour-and-a-half to enter the park. In New Mexico, Carlsbad Caverns National Park had cancelled all ranger-led tours. Colorado's Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument announced it would be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays due to the staffing cuts. Cuts also impact ongoing projects visitors might not see, like the Transcanyon Waterline. Riesenberg said, "That project is going to be held up, because scientists and botanists and arborists who were replanting trees down there for shade, for safety, after that project, and that's all gonna stop. It's gonna hold the project up." Chuck Sams, who served as the 19th director of the National Park Service, stepped down in January. He said, "To me, it looks like there's no rhyme or reason about why these things are taking place." During his time as director, Sams said, "I absolutely felt that we needed more employees. National Park Service needs at least 15% to as much as 25% more staff on the ground in order to fully meet its mandate. It's important that these folks are out there. And now, we've seen a 10% reduction in staff. So it's gonna be detrimental to people's experiences in the parks." Asked for comment, the National Park Service's Office of Public Affairs told "CBS Sunday Morning," "The National Park Service remains steadfast in its commitment to serving the American public and preserving the natural and cultural resources entrusted to our care. However, NPS policy is to not comment on litigation related to personnel matters." Meanwhile, a group of current employees known as the "Resistance Rangers" has been tracking the cuts, speaking out on behalf of their fired coworkers. One ranger, who asked that we conceal their identity out of fear of retaliation, told us, "None of us want to be doing this. We're public land servants. We're civil servants who just want to be doing our job. I cannot separate myself from the mission. I am doing this for the love of public lands. I'm doing this for my nieces and nephews. I'm doing this for the people to come in 150 years." The ranger is especially worried about the crush of visitors who will be headed to understaffed parks this spring and summer. "We were hobbled to begin with, and now our kneecaps are cut off," they said. "In addition to that, we have $12 billion in maintenance deficit. Like, every single national park you ask me about that I've been to, I can point out six or seven high-priority products that need to happen in order to protect the integrity of that place. We just had our highest visitation year ever in history; 331 million people went to parks last year. That is an absurd number of people." Americans love their national parks. Last year, a Pew Research Center opinion poll found that, when it comes to federal agencies, the public has the most favorable view of the National Park Service. It ranked highest with Democrats AND Republicans. Sams said, "During my service as the National Park Service director, I had never met a member of Congress that didn't love the park that was in their home state. And I generally saw bipartisan support for the National Park Service. Moving forward, there has to be a strong understanding that parks aren't partisan. The flora and fauna, the natural and cultural resources inside of the park don't belong to any political party." Fired training specialist Lynda Jones joined the Park Service to serve her country. "Both my parents are veterans," she said. "They served in the military. And they instilled in me the importance of public service." While Thursday's court rulings have reinstated her position at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (at least temporarily), the Trump administration has appealed – and a larger reduction in force is still possible. Which leaves park staff like Jones dealing with an uncertain future, worried about what's to come. "This is the story of America," Jones said, tearing up. "The story of the people who live here. And it doesn't matter your background or where you're from. These places belong to all of us. And they really are America's best idea." For more info: Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona (National Park Service)Grand Canyon Conservancy"Resistance Rangers" on InstagramGlen Canyon National Recreation Area, Arizona/Utah (National Park Service) Story produced by Anthony Laudato. Editor: Carol Ross. Trump sends Iran a warning while ordering strikes against Houthis in Yemen Retail giants like Macy's, Walgreens face financial turmoil Senate passes short-term funding bill, averting a government shutdown
CBS News
16-03-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
How DOGE cuts are jeopardizing our national parks, "America's best idea"
When British novelist J.B. Priestley visited the Grand Canyon in the 1930s, he described it as "all of Beethoven's nine symphonies in stone and magic light." "If I were an American," he wrote, "I should make my remembrance of it the final test of men, art, and policies … Every member or officer of the federal government ought to remind himself, with triumphant pride, that he is on the staff of the Grand Canyon." In February, as part of the Trump Administration's effort to shrink the size of the federal workforce, approximately 1,000 employees were laid off across the Park Service. When the federal government fired some of the Park Service staff who work at the canyon, this was the scene near the South Rim: In the weeks since, there have been protests at hundreds of park service sites, from Acadia to Zion. Jim Landahl worked as a seasonal ranger for years, until he got a promotion to a permanent posting at Grand Canyon six months ago. Then came the termination email. He said it stated that "we lacked the necessary skills, qualifications, fitness to perform this job. And I didn't take that personally at all, because I knew that was a lie. I knew that was false. Whoever wrote that letter wasn't hiking with me down into the canyon in a hundred-degree heat to do our job." Landahl's work involved restoring habitat disturbed by the reconstruction of the park's failing Transcanyon Waterline, which provides water to lodges and other infrastructure. Since he'd been in this position for less than a year, he was classified as a "probationary employee." "The project is a critical infrastructure project for Grand Canyon," said archeologist Leah Gallo. "And without it, there would be pretty much no Grand Canyon." Gallo had only been working on the project for two weeks when she was let go. "I spent pretty much every dime to move here," she said. But this past Thursday, two federal judges ruled that the government must reinstate thousands of fired probationary workers across several agencies, finding that the layoffs were carried out under false pretenses – that performance wasn't a factor. It's currently unclear if and when Park Service staff might be back on the job. Judge orders 6 agencies to rehire fired federal probationary workers after "unlawful" terminations Mindy Riesenberg is the chief of communications for the Grand Canyon Conservancy, a non-profit group that supports the park. As we enter the busy season, she says she's worried about people having to wait in several-hour-long lines just to get into the park. "We had almost five million visitors last year at Grand Canyon," she said. "And now I think we're down to about 11 fee collectors for the South Rim, for five million people a year." When we visited the canyon last weekend, visitors were waiting up to an hour-and-a-half to enter the park. In New Mexico, Carlsbad Caverns National Park had cancelled all ranger-led tours. Colorado's Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument announced it would be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays due to the staffing cuts. Cuts also impact ongoing projects visitors might not see, like the Transcanyon Waterline. Riesenberg said, "That project is going to be held up, because scientists and botanists and arborists who were replanting trees down there for shade, for safety, after that project, and that's all gonna stop. It's gonna hold the project up." Chuck Sams, who served as the 19th director of the National Park Service, stepped down in January. He said, "To me, it looks like there's no rhyme or reason about why these things are taking place." During his time as director, Sams said, "I absolutely felt that we needed more employees. National Park Service needs at least 15% to as much as 25% more staff on the ground in order to fully meet its mandate. It's important that these folks are out there. And now, we've seen a 10% reduction in staff. So it's gonna be detrimental to people's experiences in the parks." Asked for comment, the National Park Service's Office of Public Affairs told "CBS Sunday Morning," "The National Park Service remains steadfast in its commitment to serving the American public and preserving the natural and cultural resources entrusted to our care. However, NPS policy is to not comment on litigation related to personnel matters." Meanwhile, a group of current employees known as the "Resistance Rangers" has been tracking the cuts, speaking out on behalf of their fired coworkers. One ranger, who asked that we conceal their identity out of fear of retaliation, told us, "None of us want to be doing this. We're public land servants. We're civil servants who just want to be doing our job. I cannot separate myself from the mission. I am doing this for the love of public lands. I'm doing this for my nieces and nephews. I'm doing this for the people to come in 150 years." The ranger is especially worried about the crush of visitors who will be headed to understaffed parks this spring and summer. "We were hobbled to begin with, and now our kneecaps are cut off," they said. "In addition to that, we have $12 billion in maintenance deficit. Like, every single national park you ask me about that I've been to, I can point out six or seven high-priority products that need to happen in order to protect the integrity of that place. We just had our highest visitation year ever in history; 331 million people went to parks last year. That is an absurd number of people." Americans love their national parks. Last year, a Pew Research Center opinion poll found that, when it comes to federal agencies, the public has the most favorable view of the National Park Service. It ranked highest with Democrats AND Republicans. Sams said, "During my service as the National Park Service director, I had never met a member of Congress that didn't love the park that was in their home state. And I generally saw bipartisan support for the National Park Service. Moving forward, there has to be a strong understanding that parks aren't partisan. The flora and fauna, the natural and cultural resources inside of the park don't belong to any political party." Fired training specialist Lynda Jones joined the Park Service to serve her country. "Both my parents are veterans," she said. "They served in the military. And they instilled in me the importance of public service." While Thursday's court rulings have reinstated her position at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (at least temporarily), the Trump administration has appealed – and a larger reduction in force is still possible. Which leaves park staff like Jones dealing with an uncertain future, worried about what's to come. "This is the story of America," Jones said, tearing up. "The story of the people who live here. And it doesn't matter your background or where you're from. These places belong to all of us. And they really are America's best idea."
