Parks Reduce Services: Call Your Congressperson TODAY to Restore Staff to National Parks

The National Park Service conserves some of the greatest natural wonders and preserves historic and cultural icons in the United States of America. But it does more than that. 325 million visitors typically descend on the nation’s 428 parks and historic sites every year, This gives Americans a chance to explore, learn, and enjoy healthy exercise. The Park Service also serves local economies. In many communities, the parks are major sources of employment, either directly or indirectly through the employment of hotel staff and restaurant employees. Park visitors spent enough money to support an estimated 415,000 jobs, An estimated $55.6 billion in total economic activity in 2023 was laid to visitors to the National Parks. Whole communities are dependent on visitors to major parks. As access is reduced to the parks, many Americans will reconsider visiting Yellowstone, Glacier, Gettysburg, and Antietam, among others.

Kristen Brengel, a spokesperson for the National Parks Conservation Association, says that “Fewer staff means shorter visitor center hours, delayed openings and closed campgrounds.” According to Brengel, short staff will interfere with trash collection, restrooms will not be maintained, guided tours will be cancelled, and visitors’ centers at smaller parks will close. Brengel says that the administration is “pushing an already overwhelmed Park Service to its breaking point. And the consequences will be felt in our parks for years.”

According to Brengel, “It puts the park in an untenable position. You’re going to hurt tourism.″

So, for example, the so-called “St. Valentine’s Day Massacre” which took place on the romantic holiday, gutted the reservation system for historic houses at Gettysburg that people rented at the National Battlefield to stay. Those who had already rented the rooms got an email saying that their reservations were cancelled. To enter the Grand Canyon National Park, it now takes more than 90 minutes just to clear the admission gate.

“We’re hearing uncertainty from travelers who want to know if facilities and services will be available in 2025. That uncertainty isn’t good for anyone,” said Jen Young, co-founder of Outdoorsy, the largest RV rental marketplace, told Forbes this week. Tourists trying to arrange camping reservations at many National Parks and National Forests find that their reservations are not being accepted.

Please contact your Congressional Representatives and Senators to let them know that you object to this potentially illegal firing of staff.

Call the Capitol Switchboard to contact your Congressperson (202) 224-3121.

When you call you will likely have a live operator who will connect you to your Congressperson or Senator, so make sure you know the name of your Congressperson or Senator! You need to call whether your Congressperson is a Republican or Democrat, The margins in both houses of Congress are razor thin and just making this a priority can lead to a bipartisan effort to restore staffing.

You should also call the American Battlefield Trust to ask them to publicly defend the parks and the staff. Call them at: (202) 367-1861 and e-mail them at: info@battlefields.org

Note on Social Media responses:

I you have seen some of the attacks on me on Social Media, I have been called a “Retard” and a “Cuck.” Cuck is short for “cuckhold”, which means my wife is committing adultery. Since those making these insults do not know my wife, why would they make that charge against her? Also, I have not heard someone called a “retard” since the early 1970s. Why is an insulting term for mentally disabled people being used? In any event, I have a doctoral degree and teach at a university.  Oh well. 

Note: Photo of Grant’s Tomb was taken by Pat Young.

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