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Amid significant budget cuts from the Trump administration, National Park Service (NPS) staff across the U.S. are struggling to maintain operations in national parks. The NPS has lost about a quarter of its permanent workforce since January, slashing its budget by a third, leaving archeologists and ecologists in roles such as ticket sales and visitor assistance, while superintendents take on cleaning responsibilities. This staffing crisis affects crucial behind-the-scenes work like ecosystem protection and infrastructure maintenance, pushing many staff into a survival mode.
Reports reveal that parks like Assateague Island face safety risks due to unfilled lifeguard positions, while law enforcement staff shortages allow visitors to pose risks without consequence. Alarmingly, with over 4,000 staff departures, parks are unable to maintain essential services. Critics argue the administration views national parks merely as tourist attractions, compromising their ecological and cultural integrity.
Moreover, signage encouraging visitors to report negative aspects of U.S. history sparks backlash, reflecting public concern about sanitizing history in park narratives. While Congress appears less inclined to support further funding cuts than the administration suggests, the overall direction seems aimed at diminishing the NPS’s core functions.
Current staff warn of lasting damage to national parks, emphasizing that the situation is unsustainable and detrimental to the future of these treasured lands. This paradigm shift threatens the fundamental role of national parks as protected landscapes, raising fears about their preservation and management.
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Trump’s Ruthless Cuts Have Left Our National Parks in “Survival Mode”
