For Immediate Release: December 17, 2025
Contact: Doug Gordon | do**@***************es.com
Retired Park Leaders: Lee Proposal Could “Gut National Parks” And “End The National Park Service As We Know It”
In response to Chairman Mike Lee advancing a proposal that could green-light the selling off, transferring and giving away of national parks, Emily Thompson, Executive Director of the Coalition To Protect America’s National Park, an organization made up of former and retired national park leaders, issued the following statement:
“Chairman Lee’s proposal could gut national parks and end the National Park Service as we know it. It could destroy more than 150 years of progress in establishing, protecting, and advancing national parks in this country. This proposal is more than just wrongheaded, it is flat out dangerous. Senators must vote ‘no’ on this amendment and once again take a bipartisan stand against selling off our national treasures to the highest bidder.
“This continues a pattern we have seen from the Administration that has left our national parks understaffed, underfunded, and in crisis.
“Anyone who has visited a national park or plans to in the future should be gravely concerned about the efforts of Chairman Lee and the Trump Administration. We encourage you to reach out to your senators and stand with national parks and those who steward them. Our National Park System should be treasured and protected, not gutted and sold for parts.”
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