July 6th 2025.
Recent reports have shed light on the adverse impact of budget cuts imposed by the Trump administration on the National Park Service. In the midst of this chaos, a new executive order was issued on July 3rd by President Trump, which seems to be aimed at pushing the struggling agency to generate revenue.
The executive order, titled “Making America Beautiful Again By Improving Our National Parks,” outlines the sale of National Parks and Federal Recreations Lands Passes to foreign visitors at a higher rate. On the other hand, it puts the responsibility on the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to improve services and affordability for US residents visiting the parks. It is important to mention that most national parks in the country do not charge an entry fee, and those that do are already priced reasonably.
This executive order also revokes a previous executive order by President Obama that promoted diversity, equity, and inclusion in national parks. This aligns with President Trump's persistent efforts to eliminate diversity and inclusion from the federal government ever since taking office.
According to The New York Times, the National Park Service is currently experiencing its busiest time of the year. However, Theresa Pierno, the leader of the National Parks Conservation Association, has expressed concern over the agency's ability to function properly due to staff reductions and voluntary departures caused by the government's approach to staffing and budget cuts.
Pierno stated, “National parks cannot properly function at the staffing levels this administration has reduced them to. And it’s only getting worse.”
Rep. Jared Huffman, the top Democrat on the House Committee on Natural Resources, also criticized the government's contradictory and haphazard approach to budget cuts. He highlighted the loss of park rangers, custodial crews, and other essential employees in his statement.
“These are the rangers who rescue stranded or injured hikers, fix water systems, and ensure the safety of families,” Rep. Huffman said. “This administration's incompetence and carelessness could put lives in danger.”
According to CNN, with the federal government's reckless budget and job cuts, park rangers are being asked to take on additional responsibilities, potentially leading to burnout as the summer progresses. Additionally, visitors to the parks have expressed their disappointment over the lack of appropriate staffing, which has resulted in an overall feeling of emptiness during their visits.
Former NPS regional director and park superintendent, Kym Hall, expressed concern over the potential consequences of the understaffing. “By mid-August, the staff will be so burnt out,” she told CNN. “Mistakes can happen, people can get hurt, and visitors may engage with wildlife in unsafe ways due to the lack of park staff to prevent them.”
Hall continued, “Even if the parks had the resources and permission, it takes months to recruit, vet, hire and train seasonal staff before Memorial Day. The attrition caused by these budget cuts will take years to rebuild and regain the knowledge lost.” This is a critical issue that needs to be addressed and cannot be fixed overnight.
In related news, National Parks will now instruct visitors to report any “disparaging” depictions of history. This new measure aims to promote a more inclusive and accurate representation of the country's past.
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