Prevent park service dismantling, preserve national treasures

The National Park Service is being decimated by sweeping staff reductions that will severely impact its ability to fulfill its critical mission. With the proposed firing of 1,500 additional employees, the total workforce losses would reach 25% of all park service staff. This draconian downsizing comes after over 3,500 employees have already been let go or accepted buyouts since the administration took office. These cuts jeopardize numerous vital programs and services that the American people rely on. Regional and national offices provide essential scientific, cultural, administrative and technical support across the park system. Services like tracking ecosystem health, preserving historic sites, facilitating public-private partnerships, training staff in preservation skills, and coordinating volunteers will be crippled. Lack of staffing will inevitably lead to degradation of our cherished parks and failure to adequately monitor and address threats like natural disasters. Furthermore, other Department of Interior agencies like the U.S. Geological Survey, which investigates hazards affecting millions of Americans, are also being gutted. This dismantling of the federal workforce overseeing our public lands is unconscionable. Drastic personnel reductions at this scale will inflict incalculable harm on our natural and cultural resources while undermining vital services. Congress must intervene to halt these reckless firings and compel the administration to properly execute the agency budgets and programs it has authorized through the lawful legislative process. Slashing staff to enrich billionaires at the expense of our national treasures is an intolerable dereliction of duty. Preserving our parks for future generations should be a paramount priority, not trading away long-term stewardship for short-term tax breaks. The American people expect and deserve far better.