Restore National Parks Staffing to Ensure Public Safety

On February 14, the Trump administration succeeded in firing several thousand National Park Service (NPS) and National Forest Service (NFS) workers, representing 5% and 10% of those workforces respectively. These firings were carried out under the guise of "cutting costs", but will in reality leave our national parks and forests dangerously understaffed as they enter their high visitation seasons. Our national parks were already struggling with insufficient staffing levels to support increasing park usage. This loss of critical staff poses not only inconveniences, but potential safety risks for the over 100 million visitors expected during the summer season alone. We are already witnessing dramatic impacts from these firings, with reports of visitors being locked in restrooms at Yosemite and heavy delays at the Grand Canyon's south entrance due to staffing shortages. It is unacceptable for the administration to take such reckless actions that endanger our treasured public lands and those who visit them, without any oversight or accountability. I implore you to demand oversight hearings to scrutinize and push back against the administration's efforts to undermine our national parks under false economic pretenses. These public lands belong to the American people and we have a responsibility to ensure they are properly maintained and protected for present and future generations. Substantive action is needed to address this concerning situation before further damage is done.