Trump Administration Backtracks on Eliminating Thousands of National Parks Employees
A Plan to Eliminate Thousands of Seasonal Workers Reversed
Following a loud public outcry about job cuts at the National Park Service — and a relentless media campaign from outdoors enthusiasts across the country — it looks like the Trump administration has reconsidered. A plan to eliminate thousands of seasonal workers at the beloved federal agency appears to have been reversed.
New Memo Reveals Reversal
Last month, prospective seasonal employees — the people who collect the entrance fees, clean the trails and restrooms, and help rescue injured hikers — received emails saying their job offers for the 2025 season had been rescinded. This week, a memo sent from the Department of Interior to park service officials said the agency could hire 7,700 seasonal employees this year, up from the roughly 6,300 who have been hired in recent years.
Not a Change for Permanent Workforce
If fully implemented, that would be a notable exception to the government-wide hiring freeze imposed when the Trump administration clamped down on the federal bureaucracy, threatening to eliminate entire agencies, offering “deferred resignation” to almost all federal workers, and firing tens of thousands of career employees. The reprieve for the parks is “definitely a win,” said Kristen Brengel, senior vice president of government affairs for the nonprofit National Parks Conservation Assn., which obtained a copy of the memo that was shared with The Times.
Advocates Celebrate the Reversal
And it’s a testament to “advocates, park rangers, and everyone else who has been shouting from the mountaintop that we need these positions restored,” Brengel said. The memo addressed only temporary seasonal employees. It said nothing about the roughly 1,000 members of the National Park Service’s permanent workforce who were fired Friday. They were included in the administration’s multiagency purge of tens of thousands of probationary federal employees, mostly people in the first couple of years of their careers who have fewer job protections than more seasoned employees.
Challenges Remain
Park service officials did not respond to a request for comment. Following the firings Friday, which some have dubbed the “Valentine’s Day massacre,” parks employees and outdoors enthusiasts took to social media, called their congressional representatives, and buttonholed anyone who would listen in a coordinated campaign to restore jobs at what is arguably the federal government’s most popular agency.
Conclusion
The reversal is a testament to the power of public outcry and the tireless efforts of advocates for the National Park Service. While the reversal is a victory, it is not the end of the battle. The permanent workforce remains at risk, and the fight to restore all positions will continue.
FAQs
* What is the new memo from the Department of Interior?
The memo reveals that the National Park Service can hire 7,700 seasonal employees this year, up from 6,300 in recent years.
* Who is affected by the reversal?
Only temporary seasonal employees are affected. Permanent employees are still at risk.
* What is the response from park service officials?
Park service officials have not commented on the reversal.
* What is the next step for advocates?
Advocates will continue to push for the restoration of all positions, including those in the permanent workforce.
