October 28, 2025 The Honorable Michael Bennet United States Senate Washington, D.C. 20510 Re: Support for S.J.Res. 69 – Opposition to Killing North American Forest Owls in 14 Units of the National Park System Dear Senator Bennet: I am Elaine Frances Leslie, Ph.D., a career wildlife biologist in both the private sector and federal government,
More Than 450 Former National Park Leaders Call for Closure of National Parks as Dangerous Incidents Escalate
More Than 450 Former National Park Leaders Call for Closure of National Parks as Dangerous Incidents Escalate Following incidents at Yosemite and Joshua Tree, leaders state: As these latest, and sadly predictable, incidents clearly demonstrate, our parks cannot operate without dedicated staff In a letter to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum sent today, more
Protect Our Parks: Former NPS Employees Warn of Escalating Dangers During Shutdown
October 23, 2025 The Honorable Doug Burgum Secretary Department of the Interior 1849 C Street, N.W. Washington D.C., 20240 Dear Secretary Burgum: We write to you with great alarm after dangerous and life-threatening incidents at national parks and urge you once again to close all national parks until the government re-opens. As you have likely
Coalition and NPCA Submit Comments on NPS Visitor Services
October 9, 2025 RE: Docket No. NPS-2025-0037, request for information on improving visitor services On behalf of the National Parks Conservation Association and the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, Re: Docket No. MPS-2025-0037, we are pleased to offer comments on the National Park Service (NPS)’s efforts to improve visitor services. Since 1919, the
Coalition Urges Closure of National Parks After Illegal BASE Jumping, Squatting in Yosemite
After Reports Of Illegal BASE jumping And Squatters In Yosemite, Coalition To Protect America’s National Park Says: “This is What We Warned About. It’s Time To Close National Parks” Report in SFGate shows video of “illegal behavior, including BASE jumping from El Capitan and climbing Half Dome’s cables without permits” inside Yosemite National Park A story
Public Lands Leaders Sound Alarm on National Parks and Public Lands As Government Shutdown Compounds Effect of Existing Cuts
October 7, 2025 Public Lands Leaders Sound Alarm on National Parks and Public Lands As Government Shutdown Compounds Effect of Existing Cuts With Limited Staff and Shrinking Budgets, Public Lands are Stretched Thin; Leaders Warn Early Shutdown Impacts Foreshadow Larger Problems Full Recording and Transcript can be Found Here. Washington, D.C. — Today, former
NPT: Veteran Public Lands Managers Lament Government Shutdown’s Impacts
By Kurt Repanshek October 7, 2025 National parks across the country might appear to be operating largely as usual during the government shutdown, but natural and cultural resources are at risk, National Park Service morale is further being crushed, and family finances are at risk while many politicians look the other way, former agency personnel
Coalition Deeply Concerned Over Plan to Keep Parks Open and Understaffed During Shutdown
Coalition members and staff continue to push for national parks – which are already struggling under the impacts of staffing and budget cuts since January – to be closed in the event of a government shutdown. NBC Bay Area News – “Why some want national parks closed if government shuts down.“ Cronkite News –
Member Op-Ed: National park cuts threaten Nevada’s economy
NEVADA VIEWS: National park cuts threaten Nevada’s economy Catherine Cortez Masto and Mark Butler Special to the Las Vegas Review-Journal September 27, 2025 – 9:01 pm Updated September 29, 2025 – 7:03 am In addition to their natural wonders, Nevada’s national parks and public lands such as Great Basin National Park, Lake Mead National
More Than 35 Former National Park Superintendents Urge Secretary Burgum To Close National Parks If There Is A Government Shutdown
More Than 35 Former National Park Superintendents Urge Secretary Burgum To Close National Parks If There Is A Government Shutdown Superintendents state: “Leaving parks open to the public with minimal—or no—park staffing is reckless and puts both visitors and park resources at risk.” In a letter sent to Secretary Burgum today, 38 former National Park
Former NPS Superintendents Urge Secretary Burgum To Close National Parks if Government Shuts Down
September 25, 2025 The Honorable Doug Burgum Secretary Department of the Interior 1849 C Street, N.W. Washington D.C., 20240 Dear Secretary Burgum: As former superintendents of national parks across the country, we write to you with an urgent appeal to protect our parks and public lands by closing them if a government shutdown occurs. Past
‘We should all be ashamed’: Huffman calls out reported plan to sanitize National Parks exhibits
‘We should all be ashamed’: Huffman calls out reported plan to sanitize National Parks exhibits Interior Department disputes claims of censorship By ROBERT SCHAULIS PUBLISHED: September 19, 2025 The Trump administration has come under fire this week for attempting to “sanitize” and “erase history” at National Parks sites throughout the county. On Monday, the
VICTORY: Court Rules Lawsuit to Protect Wilderness Battlefield Can Proceed
VICTORY: Court Rules Lawsuit to Protect Wilderness Battlefield Can Proceed Thanks to yesterday’s ruling, litigation will continue to save this precious landscape and hallowed ground, home to some of America’s most impactful history. WASHINGTON – Today, the Circuit Court for Orange County, Virginia partially denied a motion to dismiss the litigation challenging the the local
Coalition Statement On Removal of Historical Information from National Parks: “Dangerous And Unprecedented Move”
Coalition To Protect America’s National Parks On Removal of Historical Information from National Parks: “Dangerous And Unprecedented Move” The Administration is ordering national parks to remove historical information it considers disparaging to America at parks across the country. Following a March executive order, which asserted that some of the history presented at parks advances
Member Op-Ed: Trump administration cuts to National Park Service threaten NC economy
From the majestic peaks of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to the unparalleled beaches of Cape Hatteras National Seashore, millions of Americans visit North Carolina’s national parks each year to enjoy the natural beauty, culture, history, and recreation they offer. I spent more than four decades with the National Park Service, much of it
Federal Judge Rebukes Trump Administration for Firing Essential Federal Employees
Federal Judge Rebukes Trump Administration for Firing Essential Federal Employees In a sharply worded decision issued late Friday, a federal district judge ruled that the Trump Administration broke the law by firing federal workers employed in vital roles protecting public safety and supporting the U.S. economy. Judge William H. Alsup of the Northern District of
Former Coalition EC Member Michael Allen: Trump Is Scrubbing Slavery From Our Historical Sites
OPINION GUEST ESSAY Trump Is Scrubbing Slavery From Our Historical Sites Sept. 5, 2025 By Kevin Sack Mr. Sack is the author of “Mother Emanuel: Two Centuries of Race, Resistance, and Forgiveness in One Charleston Church.” Charles Pinckney’s stature in American history, sufficient to merit his own National Park Service site near Charleston, S.C., has
“How We Fight”
“How We Fight” is a short documentary that follows a series of protests at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park in the first months of the Trump administration. Over the course of 105 days, retired Chief of Interpretation Carol Borneman led a local effort to make the park neighbors aware of the damage being done to
Member Op-Ed: Ciscomani, others must stand up for our public lands
Ciscomani, others must stand up for our public lands The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer: This summer, many of us Arizonans got out to enjoy our public lands. From Grand Canyon National Park and Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni-Ancestral Footprints Grand Canyon National Monument to Ironwood National Monument and Las Cienegas National
Coalition Comments on Advancing a Surface Transportation Proposal
Daniel Cohen Assistant General Counsel for Regulation and Legislation U.S. Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, West Building, Ground Floor, W12-140 Washington, D.C. 20590-0001 RE: Docket No. DOT-OST-2025-0468, Comments on Advancing a Surface Transportation Proposal Dear Assistant General Counsel Cohen: The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks submits these following recommendations on the
New NYT Report Shows The Deep Crisis in National Parks
New NYT Report Shows The Deep Crisis in National Parks Secretary Burgum’s order that parks remain open and accessible has put parks in an impossible situation. A new report in today’s New York Times shows that while the Trump Administration is pushing national parks to remain open and accessible, our parks are in crisis, and
NATIONAL PARKS CALL-IN SHOW
NATIONAL PARKS CALL-IN SHOW Today marks the 109th anniversary of the National Park Service. But drastic budget cuts to the park system leave many people concerned. Listen to the National Parks Call-In Show here. Tonight’s RadioACTive is a collaboration with Rocky Mountain Community Radio (RMCR), a coalition of 21 non-commercial radio stations in Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming and
Member Op-ed: A Short-Sighted View of Our Parks
A Short-Sighted View of the Parks NPS budget cuts threaten our economy, environment, and quality of life Watching the current administration eviscerate staffing and budgets in the National Park Service has horrified and sickened those of us who have spent years working in our parks. These short-sighted decisions pose a grave threat to the Outer
Advocates Urge Colorado to Phase Out Toxic Lead Ammunition and Tackle to Protect Wildlife and Public Health
Colorado Parks and Wildlife 6060 Broadway Denver, CO 80216 Submitted via: online portal August 8, 2025 RE: Inclusion of a Lead Ammunition and Tackle Phase-Out in CPW’s State Wildlife Action Plan Dear Colorado Parks and Wildlife Planning Team, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility and Elaine F. Leslie, PhD, former National Park Service Agency Chief of
America’s National Parks at Breaking Point as Staff Cuts, Budget Slashes Threaten Safety and Preservation
Australian Broadcast Corporation Once ‘America’s best idea’, National Parks are reaching their breaking point US national parks are being forced to stay open despite operating on a “bare-bones” crew after cuts to staff and funding. Rangers say they can’t sustain it. By Maddy Morwood From the towering sandstone canyons in Zion, to the Rocky Mountain