1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

The National Park Service is facing severe staffing shortages due to the Trump administration's hiring freeze, forcing the termination of over 2,000 seasonal and permanent positions across the country. This shortage threatens the ability of parks like the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most visited in the nation with over 13 million visitors in 2023, to properly maintain facilities and protect natural and cultural resources during peak seasons. While the administration recently reinstated 5,000 seasonal job offers, the initial threat to these critical roles underscores the need for stable funding and staffing to uphold the Park Service's mission. Parks cannot safely accommodate millions of visitors or preserve treasured landscapes without sufficient personnel. Protecting our national parks requires prioritizing the professionals dedicated to their stewardship. I urge you to support legislation ensuring the National Park Service has the resources to fully staff parks and maintain operations vital to their conservation and public enjoyment.