Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks Calls Reports of Large Scale RIFs At National Park Service “Worst Case Scenario”
In response to reports that the Interior Department has begun a reduction in force (RIF) that will be “deep and blunt” at the National Park Service, Emily Thompson, Executive Director of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, issued the following statement:
“These RIFs will make an already dire situation at many national parks and program offices far worse. The people who are being fired by this Administration help to ensure our parks are safe and accessible, and the irreplaceable resources they protect will be around for future generations.
“In addition, this RIF would not just hurt our national parks, staff, and visitors – gateway communities that depend on tourism and visitor spending to help support the local economy are going to suffer too.
“This is the worst case scenario.
“These RIFs will mean safety at parks could be compromised and visitors should expect longer lines, reduced hours of operation at facilities, trails that are not maintained, limited access to some park amenities, and far fewer park rangers to help ensure they have a safe and memorable visit to their national parks.
“And the budget the President submitted to Congress today, with a $3.7 billion cut to the Department of Interior budget, including $900 million cut from the National Park Service, adds insult to injury as RIFs are moving forward. If enacted, it would be the largest cut ever to the National Park Service and exacerbate an already deeply problematic and dangerous situation. Congress should reject this budget and fully fund our National Parks.”
For Immediate Release: May 2, 2025
Contact: Doug Gordon | do**@***************es.com
The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization made up of over 4,100 members, all of whom are current, former, and retired employees or volunteers of the National Park Service (NPS). Together, they have accumulated over 50,000 years of experience caring for America’s most valuable natural and cultural resources. Our members include former NPS directors, deputy and regional directors, superintendents, park rangers (both law enforcement and interpretive), maintenance and administrative professionals, and many other dedicated career professionals.