On Friday, Feb. 14, President Donald Trump and his administration cut funding to the National Park Service, which will have a negative impact on the planet and the economy. People are already losing their jobs, and protections for park visitors are going down in many ways.
National Park Service and the economy
Between visitors and communities surrounding national parks, they bring in a lot of revenue. According to the Interior Department figures of the National Parks Traveler, last summer alone the parks brought in $55.6 billion, which supported over 400,000 jobs.
Following Trump’s budget cuts to the National Park Service, or NPS, over 1,000 permanent national park employees have already lost their jobs, including search-and-rescue teams and campsite supervisors, as well as over 3,000 Forest Service workers. Many people are left with the question: why did he make this decision?
Phil Francis worked as an employee for NPS for over 40 years, working jobs ranging from park ranger to superintendent, and shared his frustration with the budget cuts.
“Why are we doing this? [It is] a significant benefit to the communities, so why? I [do not] understand why people are supporting this action. It doesn't seem to me to be in their best interest,” Francis said.
In addition to thousands of NPS employees losing their jobs, there have also been adjustments enforced for the employees who were able to keep their jobs.
Jack Dolan, a reporter for the Los Angeles Times, shared some insight into what these changes are.
“Remaining staff members have been banned from traveling for work purposes — unless it’s to support national security or immigration enforcement — and some staffers have found that the credit cards they use … have been deactivated,” Dolan said.
The Trump administration cut funding in hopes to save money, however these cuts will only end up costing the country more.
Senator Edward J. Markey, member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and co-author of the Green New Deal resolution, discussed the dangers that our country is facing with the defunding of the NPS.
“The unconstitutional cut-off of grant programs for our parks, waterways and public lands is wreaking havoc, causing chaos and needs to be fully reversed. This uncertainty means that restoration work is costing more, investments are being stranded, trails [are not] getting maintained, and too many small organizations and partners are left in the lurch,” Markey said.
People are skeptical of the true intentions behind the funding cuts, as the Trump administration has yet to come out with an official statement giving the reasoning behind the decision.
Effects on the Earth
In addition to the mass firings and budget cuts, the Trump administration has also paused wildfire-related grants intended to reduce the risk and intensity.
This is following the devastating wildfires that California is still healing from, and with wildfire season right around the corner, many citizens are worried about the loss of these grants.
Trump also released an executive order on Jan. 20 called “Unleashing American Energy,” in which he shared his disinterest in past regulations that protected public land from being drilled.
“In recent years, burdensome and ideologically motivated regulations have impeded the development of these resources,” Trump said.
He is referring to the executive orders signed by the Biden administration in efforts to help the planet, such as Biden's order from 2023, “Revitalize Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All.”
One of the most concerning aspects of this funding cut was the fact there was no statement or explanation. U.S. citizens did not know this was happening until the mass firings began. Trump then released another executive order, creating the National Energy Dominance Council, whose purpose is to drive up national oil and gas production.
This will only lead to more damage to our environment and climate, after having record-setting temperatures in 2024.
