ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION – NO HARD COPY TO FOLLOW July 8, 2026 National Park Service, Grand Teton National Park Subject: Comment on Revised Draft Programmatic Agreement for the Moose-Wilson Road Comprehensive Management Plan The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (Coalition) is comprised of more than 5,000 members, all of whom are
What to expect at national parks this summer: big crowds, fewer reservation rules, and a less predictable visit
What to expect at national parks this summer: big crowds, fewer reservation rules, and a less predictable visit By Kelsey Vlamis The National Park Service is heading into peak summer with fewer permanent staff and looser crowd-control rules at some of its most popular parks. Advocacy groups say that the combination has already led to
Coalition Urges NCPC to Delay Approval of Proposed Monumental Arch Pending Full Historic and Environmental Review
ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION – NO HARD COPY TO FOLLOW July 2, 2026 National Capital Planning Commission Subject: Item #8778 – Proposed approval of preliminary and final site and building plans for new Monumental Arch The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (Coalition) is comprised of more than 5,000 members, all of whom are retired, former, or
National Park System Receives Special Designation from the World Monuments Fund Irreplaceable Initiative
The Coalition secured special designation for the National Park System through the World Monuments Fund’s Irreplaceable America initiative, which recognizes heritage places that reflect the breadth of the American experience and face urgent preservation challenges. Cheryl Schreier, Chair of the Executive Council of the Coalition, shared: “National parks are the great cathedrals of the
Coalition Urges U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to Uphold Lead Phase-Outs and Fully Fund Expanded Refuge Hunting and Fishing
Julie Henning Branch Chief of Conservation Planning and Policy National Wildlife Refuge System, US Fish and Wildlife Service 5275 Leesburg Pike Falls Church, VA 22041 Subject: Conservation Groups Comments on 2026-2027 Station-Specific Hunting and Sport Fishing Regulations, FWS-HQ-NWRS-2026-1223 Date: 23 June 2026 Dear Ms. Henning and National Wildlife Refuge System Administration, The Coalition to Protect
Coalition Urges OPM to Withdraw Overbroad Government-Wide NDA Proposal
ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION – NO HARD COPY TO FOLLOW Submitted via: https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/OPM-2026-0100-0004 June 26, 2026 RE: Comments on Proposed Confidential Government Information Non-Disclosure Agreement (OPM-2026-0100) The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks appreciates the opportunity to comment on the Office of Personnel Management’s proposed Confidential Government Information Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA). The Coalition is a nonpartisan
Conservation, Recreation, Tourism, and Preservation Groups Urge Senate Passage of the America the Beautiful Act
June 24, 2026 Dear Senators, We, organizations supporting conservation, recreation, outdoor industry, travel and tourism and historic preservation, urge you to support S. 1547, America the Beautiful Act. The bill has 66 bipartisan cosponsors and passed through the U.S. Senate Energy Natural Resources Committee with unanimous support. The bill extends the Great American Outdoors Act
Internal memo orders staff not to reveal deaths in national parks
The Interior Department’s guidance instructs parks staff not to confirm deaths, the severity of injuries or other details. June 24, 2026 By Jake Price On Friday, a 17-year-old girl drowned in Sequoia National Park after slipping into a river. On Saturday, a 23-year-old man died after falling over a waterfall in Yosemite. The same
Coalition Partners Urge BLM to Protect Old Spanish National Historic Trail from Utah Oil and Gas Leasing
John W. Hiscock Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance Western Watersheds Project Basin and Range Watch Comments – DOI-BLM-UT-0000-2026-0005-EA – BLM Utah 2026 Third Quarter Competitive Oil and Gas Lease Sale Environmental Assessment June 21, 2026 Bureau of Land Management Utah State Office To whom
Conservation Groups Urge Congressional Oversight of NPS Actions at Cumberland Island National Seashore
The Honorable Steve Daines Chairman Subcommittee on National Parks Energy and Natural Resources Committee U.S. Senate Washington, D.C. 20510 The Honorable Angus King Ranking Member Subcommittee on National Parks Energy and Natural Resources Committee U.S. Senate Washington, D.C. 20510 Senator Jon Ossoff U.S. Senate Washington, D.C. 20510 Senator Raphael Warnock U.S. Senate Washington, D.C. 20510
Former Big Bend Superintendents Urge DHS to Protect the Park While Strengthening Border Security
June 15, 2026 The Honorable Markwayne Mullin Secretary United States Department of Homeland Security 1880 2nd Street Southwest Washington, DC 20024 Dear Secretary Mullin: We write to you again, following up on our letter from May 21, 2026. We are six former superintendents and a former deputy superintendent of Big Bend National Park, with
Court Blocks Censorship and Erasure of American History and Science at National Parks
Court Blocks Censorship and Erasure of American History and Science at National Parks Boston – A U.S. District Court has issued an order stopping the Trump-Vance administration from censoring American history and science and ordering the restoration of unlawfully censored information displayed in America’s largest classroom – our national parks. The preliminary injunction comes in
Judge Blocks National Parks From Removing ‘Negative’ Signs
Judge Blocks National Parks From Removing ‘Negative’ Signs The ruling accused the Trump administration of engaging in censorship by taking down materials at parks across the country. By Maxine Joselow Reporting from Washington Published June 12, 2026 Updated June 13, 2026, 5:39 p.m. ET A federal judge on Friday temporarily blocked the National Park Service
Coalition Testifies in Support of the Great American Outdoors Act 250
Coalition Executive Council (EC) member Mike Ward testified before the Committee on Natural Resources at a legislative field hearing on a Discussion Draft of the “Great American Outdoors Act 250.” The hearing examined legislation reauthorizing and reforming the Great American Outdoors Act to enhance public access, improve infrastructure, and create new outdoor recreation opportunities in one
Border Wall Waiver at Big Bend an Assault on Texas Values
Border Wall Waiver at Big Bend an Assault on Texas Values On Monday, the Trump Administration issued a preliminary federal notice waiving a range of federal laws to allow border-related infrastructure in and around Big Bend National Park. This is a devastating development opposed by Texans and Americans from across the political spectrum. Cheryl Shreier,
As park fees go to DC, Yellowstone, Grand Teton face $1.5B backlog
June 5, 2026 by Angus M. Thuermer Jr Interior Department says it has ‘many funding sources available’ to cover road repairs, water and wastewater systems, trails and campgrounds. Major national park units in Wyoming face a combined $1.6 billion maintenance backlog for roads, trails, sewerage and more, as critics say locally generated fees are being
Conservation groups urge BLM to further scale back Wyoming oil and gas lease sale
Conservation groups urge BLM to further scale back Wyoming oil and gas lease sale A coalition of conservation organizations submitted comments on the Bureau of Land Management’s Draft Environmental Assessment and Draft Finding of No Significant Impact for the Wyoming BLM’s Third Quarter 2026 competitive oil and gas lease sale. The proposed sale initially analyzed
National parks crisis hits home
National parks crisis hits home by Tara McClellan McAndrew June 4, 2026 National parks are facing a triple whammy – underfunding, reduced staffing, and what some call unprecedented federal oversight. Central Illinois is home to three National Park Service (NPS) sites, including the Lincoln Home, and they’ve been affected, too. While effects vary by park,
Park Service orders removal of ‘woke’ quotes at Boston’s Bunker Hill monument
Park Service orders removal of ‘woke’ quotes at Boston’s Bunker Hill monument A visitor complaint prompted a review of quotes that are anti-war, pro-immigrant or highlight American hypocrisy on slavery ahead of the monument’s 251st anniversary celebration. By Jake Spring, The Washington Post June 4, 2026 The National Park Service has ordered the removal of
Animal Welfare and Public Health Groups File Petition in Colorado to Ban Lead Ammunition for Hunting
For Immediate Release June 4, 2026 Contact: Lindsey von Busch at 732.284.9089| li*****@******************on.org Animal Welfare and Public Health Groups File Petition in Colorado to Ban Lead Ammunition for Hunting Lead poisons and kills dozens of wildlife species and is also an acute threat to hunting families and others eating wild game shot with the toxic, irreducible
Parks Are Proof Campaign
Parks Are Proof Campaign The #ParksAreProof campaign highlights how science-based management, conservation, and stewardship have helped national parks protect biodiversity, ecosystems, and cultural resources—while also demonstrating what is at stake if parks are not adequately supported in the future. This campaign includes detailed reports, media outreach, and congressional engagement to advocate for sustained investment in park
Coalition To Protect America’s National Parks Urges Court To Block Construction Of President Trump’s Ballroom
Coalition To Protect America’s National Parks Urges Court To Block Construction Of President Trump’s Ballroom For Immediate Release: Thursday, May 28, 2026 Contact: Doug Gordon | do**@***************es.com Coalition Joins American Institute of Architects, American Society of Landscape Architects, Association for Preservation Technology, Committee of 100 on the Federal City, Cultural Landscape Foundation, DC Preservation League,
National Parks Face a Strained Summer as Staffing Shortages Deepen
MEMO To: Interested Parties Fr: Emily Thompson, Coalition To Protect America’s National Parks Re: Even more dangerous summer season for our national parks Dt: May 2026 __________________________________________________________ As the National Park Service enters the summer high season, hardworking national park staff are dealing with more shortages than ever before, putting our parks in danger, those
Protest Challenges BLM Utah Oil and Gas Lease Sale Near the Old Spanish National Historic Trail
May 23, 2026 Bureau of Land Management BLM Utah Lease Sales To whom it may concern: The following signators, and noted related organizations, hereby submit this protest to the DOI-BLM-UT-0000-2026-0003-EA – BLM Utah 2026 Second Quarter Competitive Oil and Gas Lease Sale Environmental Assessment: John W. Hiscock Chandra Rosenthal, Rocky Mountain Regional Director, Public
Coalition Urges Full Public Review of Proposed Monumental Arch Near Arlington National Cemetery
May 21, 2026 Mr. William Scharf Chair, National Capital Planning Commission 401 9th Street NW, Suite 500 Washington, DC 20004 Subject: Comments on the Proposed Monumental Arch, Memorial Circle, George Washington Memorial Parkway, Columbia Island Dear Chairman Scharf, The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (Coalition) is