Latest news with #staffingCuts
Washington Post
6 days ago
- General
- Washington Post
Superintendent of Oregon's Crater Lake National Park resigns, citing staffing cuts
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. — The superintendent of Crater Lake National Park in Oregon has resigned after just months in the role, citing staffing cuts that he called unsustainable and damaging. Kevin Heatley resigned Friday from the position he had held since January, Portland TV station KGW reported . He told the outlet the decision was difficult but that policies undertaken by the Trump administration had impacted the ability of the National Park Service to function. 'I did not want to be empowering the current administration to cause that kind of impact on the people that I'm responsible for,' Heatley said. 'And I also did not want to participate in the dismantlement — effectively a dismantlement — of the National Park Service.' 'We're being told, for instance, when people leave, they only want to replace 25% of those permanent positions,' he said. 'You can't run an organization like that.' A message seeking comment was sent Wednesday to the agency's communications office. Heatley said a seasonal increase in staffing of about 60 to 65 workers to help with summer crowds isn't sufficient to preserve park infrastructure or sustain its longterm needs. A number of the park's eight ranger positions — full-time positions tasked with maintaining park roads, buildings and trails — are unfilled, he said. Heatley's previous experience includes planning and management roles with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. He said he felt conflicted staying in a role where he saw the system as being undermined. Crater Lake National Park is home to the deepest lake in the U.S. and the deepest lake in the world formed by volcanic activity.
The Independent
6 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Superintendent of Oregon's Crater Lake National Park resigns, citing staffing cuts
The superintendent of Crater Lake National Park in Oregon has resigned after just months in the role, citing staffing cuts that he called unsustainable and damaging. Kevin Heatley resigned Friday from the position he had held since January, Portland TV station KGW reported. He told the outlet the decision was difficult but that policies undertaken by the Trump administration had impacted the ability of the National Park Service to function. 'I did not want to be empowering the current administration to cause that kind of impact on the people that I'm responsible for,' Heatley said. 'And I also did not want to participate in the dismantlement — effectively a dismantlement — of the National Park Service.' 'We're being told, for instance, when people leave, they only want to replace 25% of those permanent positions,' he said. 'You can't run an organization like that.' A message seeking comment was sent Wednesday to the agency's communications office. Heatley said a seasonal increase in staffing of about 60 to 65 workers to help with summer crowds isn't sufficient to preserve park infrastructure or sustain its longterm needs. A number of the park's eight ranger positions — full-time positions tasked with maintaining park roads, buildings and trails — are unfilled, he said. Heatley's previous experience includes planning and management roles with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. He said he felt conflicted staying in a role where he saw the system as being undermined. Crater Lake National Park is home to the deepest lake in the U.S. and the deepest lake in the world formed by volcanic activity.
Associated Press
6 days ago
- General
- Associated Press
Superintendent of Oregon's Crater Lake National Park resigns, citing staffing cuts
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. (AP) — The superintendent of Crater Lake National Park in Oregon has resigned after just months in the role, citing staffing cuts that he called unsustainable and damaging. Kevin Heatley resigned Friday from the position he had held since January, Portland TV station KGW reported. He told the outlet the decision was difficult but that policies undertaken by the Trump administration had impacted the ability of the National Park Service to function. 'I did not want to be empowering the current administration to cause that kind of impact on the people that I'm responsible for,' Heatley said. 'And I also did not want to participate in the dismantlement — effectively a dismantlement — of the National Park Service.' 'We're being told, for instance, when people leave, they only want to replace 25% of those permanent positions,' he said. 'You can't run an organization like that.' A message seeking comment was sent Wednesday to the agency's communications office. Heatley said a seasonal increase in staffing of about 60 to 65 workers to help with summer crowds isn't sufficient to preserve park infrastructure or sustain its longterm needs. A number of the park's eight ranger positions — full-time positions tasked with maintaining park roads, buildings and trails — are unfilled, he said. Heatley's previous experience includes planning and management roles with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. He said he felt conflicted staying in a role where he saw the system as being undermined. Crater Lake National Park is home to the deepest lake in the U.S. and the deepest lake in the world formed by volcanic activity.
Washington Post
27-05-2025
- Health
- Washington Post
At Veterans Affairs, plan for sweeping cuts tanks morale
Morale is plummeting inside the Department of Veterans Affairs as tens of thousands of employees prepare for deep staffing cuts, raising alarms among employees, veterans and advocates who fear the reductions would severely damage care and benefits for millions of the nation's former service members. VA Secretary Douglas A. Collins has signaled plans to shrink the agency's workforce by 15 percent — or about 83,000 employees. Although agency officials insist front-line health-care workers and claims processors will be spared, the vague and shifting details of the Trump administration's downsizing plan have only fueled anxiety and speculation within VA's massive workforce.
