For release: March 12, 2023
Contact: Emily Thompson, Em************@pr********.org
Coalition Statement on President Biden’s FY 2025 Proposed Budget
Phil Francis, Chair of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, issued the following statement on President Biden’s FY 2025 budget:
“We were disappointed in the final budget numbers that were just passed for FY 2024, and we appreciate that President Biden’s budget is trying to move in a more positive direction.
However, our national parks and public lands continue to grapple with inadequate operating budgets and staff reductions while trying to manage dramatically increasing visitation – and the President’s FY 2025 proposed budget is not going to solve the problem.
It’s clear that the National Park Service (NPS) needs additional resources to fully and safely operate our national parks and the program and offices that support them. To protect our irreplaceable natural and cultural resources and provide for a quality visitor experience, our national parks and public lands need more funding.
These proposed budget numbers for FY 2025 are not adequate to manage the lands under the care of the NPS. There must be enough funding to help the NPS rebuild its operational capacity, which means not only ensuring that fixed costs are covered, but filling staff positions at parks and program offices that have been lost over the past 15 years.
It’s past time for our country’s leaders to acknowledge the importance of our national parks and public lands by providing adequate fundings for these spaces. We plan to work closely with the Administration and Congress and advocate for the level of funding that is needed to allow the NPS to fulfill its mission and ensure these incredible places are protected for the enjoyment of future generations.”