July 21, 2025
Dear Chairman Cole, Ranking Member DeLauro and Appropriations Committee Members,
We, the members of the National Parks Second Century Action Coalition1The National Parks Second Century Action Coalition is made up of organizations supporting conservation, recreation, outdoor industry, travel and tourism and historic preservation that are dedicated to promoting the protection, restoration, and enjoyment of the National Park System for the long-term benefit it offers our nation. urge you to oppose the U.S. House of Representatives Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Interior, Environment and Related Agencies appropriations bill. The Administration’s actions have severely hampered the National Park Service’s (NPS) ability to protect the natural, cultural resources and ensure visitors have safe and enjoyable experiences. We call on Congress to use your authority to increase funding, end the hiring freeze and prevent more reductions in the workforce.
For more than a century, our national parks have remained America’s favorite places, important pieces of our natural and cultural heritage designated for future generations to explore and enjoy. They not only protect unique historic and natural resources but also support the national economy with more than fifteen dollars in economic activity for every dollar invested. In 2023, 325 million park visitors spent an estimated $26.4 billion in local gateway communities while visiting NPS sites across the country. These expenditures supported a total of 415,000 jobs. In addition, America’s outdoor recreation economy supports over 5 million American jobs and contributes $1.2 trillion in annual economic output. In 2023, there were over 66 million international arrivals to the United States and research indicates that national parks were a huge tourism attraction for those visitors
While we commend the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee for rejecting the Administration’s devastating proposal to cut national park funding by over $1 billion dollars, the bill still severely impacts the already severely hampered National Park Service.
The bill cuts the NPS budget by $213 million (nearly 6%) which would result in the loss of park staff and dig our parks into an even bigger financial hole as another record-breaking summer season is underway. The Park Service has already lost 24% of its permanent staff since January reducing the agency’s ability to care for our nation’s most iconic places. Visitor centers are reducing hours, trails and facilities are falling into disrepair, and education programs are being cancelled. Our parks’ natural and cultural heritage are already significantly at risk and the visiting experience and local economies that rely on visitors could be impacted.
Specifically, the bill cuts park operations by $176 million (6%), which would result in the loss of even more staff and would undermine both resource protection and visitor services even more. And it cuts park construction funding by $37 million (21%), threatening to limit the National Park Service’s ability to address critical maintenance projects and address the growing deferred maintenance backlog. On top of that, it undermines the protection of clean air and water with a drastic cut ($2.1 billion, 23%) to the Environmental Protection Agency.
The bill also has a number of policy riders that harm parks. For instance, the bill eviscerates protections for many endangered species including the grizzly bears, threatens water quality at Voyageurs National Park by reversing protections to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, and lessens protections for national monuments designated under the Antiquities Act.
Therefore, we urge you to oppose the U.S. House of Representatives FY26 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies appropriations bill and use your authority to increase funding, end the hiring freeze and prevent more reductions in the workforce.
Thank you for considering our views,
American Society for Landscape Architects
Appalachian Trail Conservancy
Atomic Heritage Foundation
Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks
Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park
East Bay Regional Park District
Friends of Acadia
Friends of the Apostle Islands
Friends of Dyke Marsh
Friends of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
Friends of Katahdin Woods and Waters
Friends of Saguaro National Park
Friends of the Women’s Rights National Historical Park
The Fund for People in Parks
Friends of Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park
Independence Historical Trust
International Inbound Tour Association
Mount Rushmore Society
National Parks Conservation Association
National Tour Association
Partnership for National Trails System
Public Lands Alliance
Restore Oregon
Rocky Mountain Conservancy
Scenic America
Sierra Club
Southeast Tourism Society
The Shenandoah National Park Trust
United States Tour Operators Association
Voyageurs Conservancy
Washington Trails Association