The U.S. National Park Service has experienced a sharp and unprecedented decline in its permanent workforce since the beginning of President Donald Trump’s second term, according to an analysis by the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) based on data from the Department of the Interior. The analysis reveals that the agency has lost approximately 24% of its permanent staff since January a significant reduction that has left a clear impact on the National Park Service's operations.
The crisis extends beyond permanent staff. Even seasonal workers, who are typically hired to support the parks during peak seasons, have been reduced drastically. Only around 4,500 seasonal employees were hired, far short of the 7,700 promised by the administration. This decline comes at a time when visitation to the parks remains at record-breaking levels, increasing pressure on the already limited staff.
Bill Wade, Executive Director of the Association of National Park Rangers, described the situation as “truly devastating,” warning that the ongoing workforce reduction will inevitably result in deteriorating services for visitors, and more critically, put the parks’ natural and historical resources at risk.
Reports indicate that the shortage of both permanent and seasonal staff has led to delays in maintenance, a reduction in educational programming, and slower emergency response times. As staffing cuts continue, maintaining service quality and public safety across the parks has become increasingly difficult—despite rising tourism.
Theresa Pierno, President and CEO of the NPCA, voiced her concerns: “National parks cannot properly function at these reduced staffing levels. The remaining staff are doing heroic work just to keep parks open, safe, and protected—but many are hanging by a thread.”
The situation is particularly severe in parks like Big Bend in Texas, which is operating with about half its usual workforce, and Black Canyon of the Gunnison in Colorado, which has lost a third of its staff—including its entire custodial team. Similarly, the regional offices in Alaska have seen about 60 employees leave, reducing their workforce by one-third, and causing major administrative and operational disruptions.
To make matters worse, the U.S. House of Representatives recently voted to pass a budget bill proposed by the Trump administration, which removes $267 million in previously allocated funding for the National Park Service. The bill also permits expanded oil drilling on public lands, including areas near national parks.
Pierno concluded, “You can’t protect our national treasures by gutting the people who care for them,” emphasizing that such actions harm not only the infrastructure of the parks but also their symbolic and historical value.
