1. United States
2. N.C.
3. Letter

The proposal to drastically cut funding for national parks and potentially close over 300 park units is deeply concerning. Our national parks are treasured public lands that preserve America's natural and cultural heritage for current and future generations. They protect irreplaceable ecosystems, provide recreational opportunities, and drive economic growth through tourism and related services. Slashing the National Park Service's budget by $900 million would be detrimental to the proper management and maintenance of these cherished sites. Park rangers, educational programs, visitor services, and critical infrastructure projects would all be jeopardized. The suggestion to transfer certain parks to state management ignores the national significance of these federal lands. Park visitation continues to rise, indicating the public's strong appreciation for these spaces. Underfunding will only exacerbate existing issues like the massive deferred maintenance backlog. Proposing such severe cuts disregards the National Park Service's mandate to conserve these resources unimpaired for the enjoyment of all people. I urge you to flatly reject these draconian cuts that would grievously undermine our national park system.