Gold Statues and Staff Cuts: How Trump Has Disrupted America’s Parks Maintenance projects have been put off around the country and resources diverted to the president’s favored projects in Washington. By Maxine Joselow Reporting from Washington Sept. 19, 2026 This story is free to read. Ever since Theodore Roosevelt ventured into the wilderness of California’s
NBC News – Great Americans: A conversation with the first female superintendent of Mt. Rushmore, Cheryl Schreier
“Great Americans” is a recurring NBC Nightly News series commemorating America’s 250th anniversary in 2026. Introduced by anchor Tom Llamas, the series profiles Americans whose accomplishments, courage, creativity, and public service reflect the best of the nation. The September 18 profile features Cheryl Schreier, executive chair of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks
KUER: Utah national parks have a $350M maintenance backlog. The Trump admin isn’t helping.
Utah national parks have a $350M maintenance backlog. The Trump admin isn’t helping. KUER 90.1 | By David Condos Published September 18, 2026 at 2:00 AM MDT Visitors walk past part of a construction project at Canyonlands National Park in southeast Utah, March 14, 2025. With small budgets and exploding visitation, parks often can’t afford
Trump Administration Urged to Halt Yosemite Land Transfer to Private Developer
September 15, 2026 The Honorable Doug Burgum Secretary of the Interior U.S. Department of the Interior 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, D.C. 20500 Re: Reject the Transfer of Yosemite National Park Land to Kingsbarn Realty Capital Dear Secretary Burgum, On behalf of our more than 150 organizations and millions of members and supporters, we urge
Mansions Proposal Threatens National Park in Georgia
Mansions Proposal Threatens National Park in Georgia A Yosemite-Like Land Swap Planned for Cumberland Island ATLANTA, Ga.—Less than one week after proposing a land swap and private access to Yosemite National Park, the Trump administration’s Department of the Interior announced plans for similar land exchanges on Cumberland Island National Seashore, a barrier island wilderness and
Coalition Board Member Discusses Proposed Yosemite Land Deal on ABC News
Coalition board member and former Yosemite National Park Superintendent Don Neubacher spoke with ABC News about the proposed transfer of parkland to a private developer. The Trump administration is reportedly considering a land exchange that could provide Kingsbarn Realty Capital, a Nevada-based developer, with a narrow strip of land or an easement through Yosemite National
Conservation Groups Call for Public Hearing on Proposed Cumberland Island Land Exchanges
Darrell Echols Acting Director National Park Service, Region 2 100 Alabama Street SW 1924 Building Atlanta, GA 30303 September 9, 2026 Re: Request for Public Hearing Pursuant to 54 U.S.C. § 102901(b)(3) Regarding Proposed Cumberland Island National Seashore Land Exchanges Dear Acting Regional Director Echols, On behalf of the undersigned organizations and our members, we
Democracy Forward: Unions Lead Filing of New Lawsuit to Stop USDA Reorganization
New Complaint and Renewed Preliminary Injunction Motion Filed After the Court Ruled the Challenge to USDA’s Reorganization Belongs in its Own Case San Francisco – Four unions representing U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) employees, joined by nonprofit organizations and cities and counties from across the country, filed a new lawsuit today in the U.S. District
NOTUS: Trump Is Quietly Planning to Majorly Change How National Parks Are Run
Trump Is Quietly Planning to Majorly Change How National Parks Are Run All Interior Department bureaus are considering major shake-ups under an edict from leadership. By Anna Kramer and Eric Katz September 8, 2026 10:31 a.m. The Trump administration is planning to significantly reorganize the National Park Service and other bureaus of the Interior Department,
Member Op-Ed: California’s wild forests need protection — not more roads
California’s wild forests need protection — not more roads Opinion By Woody Smeck September 6, 2026 California’s national forests contain some of the last truly wild landscapes in the American West. They protect drinking water, provide critical wildlife habitat, support recreation economies and give millions of people the chance to experience nature on its own
Groups Call on BLM to Defer Oil and Gas Leases Threatening Wildlife, Water and Carlsbad Caverns
THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY COALITION TO PROTECT AMERICA’S NATIONAL PARKS NEW MEXICO WILD ROCKY MOUNTAIN WILD September 4, 2026 SUBMITTED VIA E-PLANNING Gera Ashton Acting State Director for BLM New Mexico U.S. Bureau of Land Management 301 Dinosaur Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87508 Project Contacts: Nathan Combs nc****@*lm.gov (505) 954-2110 Cody Mccullah cm*******@*lm.gov (505) 954-2027 Re:
GearJunkie: DOGE Directive Spurs Proposed Changes to National Park E-Bike Rules
DOGE Directive Spurs Proposed Changes to National Park E-Bike Rules The National Park Service published a proposal to “remove redundant procedural processes” with the goal of streamlining approval for bike and e-bike travel. A proposed new federal rule could pave the way for more e-bike access in National Parks. Following deregulatory directives from the February
Groups Urge Missouri to Withdraw Regional Haze Plan Update, Citing Air Pollution and Public Health Risks
Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks Epiphany United Church of Christ Franklin County Rural Coalition Labadie Environmental Organization (LEO) Midwest Building Decarbonization Coalition Missouri Chapter, Sierra Club Missouri Coalition for the Environment National Parks Conservation Association Sierra Club September 3, 2026 Missouri Department of Natural Resources Air Pollution Control Program ATTN: Air Quality Planning Section
WLRN: Could another shake-up be coming for national parks? Former superintendents are worried
Could another shake-up be coming for national parks? Former superintendents are worried WLRN Public Media | By Jenny Staletovich Published September 2, 2026 at 5:41 PM EDT A coalition of former National Park superintendents is sounding the alarm over another rumored staff shake-up at beloved parks downsized by at least a quarter since last year. In a letter Tuesday
KQED: ‘Yosemite Is Not for Sale’: California Officials Oppose Land-Swap Deal
‘Yosemite Is Not for Sale’: California Officials Oppose Land-Swap Deal Backlash against a proposed deal to develop a private road into Yosemite has intensified as National Park Service employees grapple with an uncertain future. Sep 2, 2026 Updated 4:36 pm PT By Sarah Wright – KQED Public Radio A group of California lawmakers called on federal
USA Today: A piece of Yosemite could be privatized: What that means for visitors
A piece of Yosemite could be privatized: What that means for visitors A developer wants to build a road through Yosemite National Park land, prompting concerns about conservation and future precedence. By Eve Chen USA TODAY Updated Sept. 3, 2026, 8:34 a.m. ET Kingsbarn Realty Capital proposes building a road through less than two
More logging and mining near Grand Canyon? Trump plan to repeal Roadless Rule raises alarms
September 2, 2026 by Ellis Preston WASHINGTON – The Trump administration’s push to allow more road construction in national forests has alarmed preservationists in Arizona, who warn the change could lead to logging or more uranium mining near the Grand Canyon. On Aug. 18, the Department of Agriculture announced the plan to rescind the 2001
Yosemite land swap could face legal roadblocks
Yosemite land swap could face legal roadblocks A private developer wants to build a short road into Yosemite, but some experts say plans for a land exchange with the National Park Service could run afoul of a 1978 law. BY HEATHER RICHARDS | 09/02/2026 01:11 PM EDT A developer’s effort to acquire a piece of
NPR: Flash floods shaping America’s national story
SEPTEMBER 1, 20265:31 PM ET HEARD ON ALL THINGS CONSIDERED By Ava Berger Amid floods in Nepal, the U.S. is experiencing serious floods in the west, including the Grand Canyon. We break down if they are connected and how Americans can understand this monsoon season. Transcript AILSA CHANG, HOST: Over the past two weeks, we
Former National Park Superintendents Warn Interior Secretary: National Parks Are in Crisis
September 2, 2026 The Honorable Doug Burgum Secretary Department of the Interior 1849 C Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20240 Dear Secretary Burgum, As former National Park Service (NPS) superintendents, we have dedicated our careers to protecting America’s national parks. We have stood in front of crowded visitor centers, responded to emergencies in remote backcountry,