By Rita Beamish March 29, 2025 President Trump’s zest for rapidly shrinking the government is triggering anxiety about conservation priorities that have been embedded for more than five decades in the country’s national parks and wildlife refuges. Amid the staffing whiplash — chaotic firings and reinstatement of rangers, scientists, and other civil servants — America’s
Member Op-Ed: In The National Park Service, No Deep State, Only Deep Concern For The Future Of America’s Best Idea
Op-Ed | In The National Park Service, No Deep State, Only Deep Concern For The Future Of America’s Best Idea By Sheridan Steele Firing federal employees without regard for the importance of their work or the consequence of their loss is not smart — or justified. Identifying and eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse is
Reinstatement of Probationary Employees is Welcome News, but Grave Concerns Linger
Release Date: March 20, 2025 Media Contact: Emily Thompson, Em************@********ps.org, 202-758-3936 Reinstatement of Probationary Employees is Welcome News, but Grave Concerns Linger Following a series of court orders, including a ruling in the Coalition’s joint lawsuit against the Office of Personnel Management for the illegal firing of probationary-status employees, the National Park Service (NPS) began
Coalition Comments on NPS Proposed Rule on Powered Micromobility Devices
ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION – NO HARD COPY TO FOLLOW Submitted on-line at: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/01/16/2024-31578/powered- micromobility-devices#open-comment March 17, 2025 Jay Calhoun National Park Service Division of Regulations, Jurisdiction and Special Park Uses MS-2472 1849 C Street NW Washington, DC 20240 Subject: NPS Proposed Rule on Powered Micromobility Devices, (RIN) 1024-AE79 Dear Mr. Calhoun: I am writing on behalf
Coalition Issues Statement on Continuing Resolution
Release Date: March 14, 2025 Media Contact: Amy Fehir, am*********@********ps.org, 202-758-3936 Coalition Issues Statement on Continuing Resolution With a shutdown averted by the passage of a Continuing Resolution (CR) Phil Francis, Chair of the Executive Council of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, issued the following statement: “While we are thankful a shutdown
Coalition Joins Protest on Expansion of Domestic Mining on Public Lands
March 12, 2025 Dear Chairman Lee, Ranking Member Heinrich, and the members of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee: On behalf of our millions of members and supporters nationwide, the undersigned organizations write regarding the expansion of domestic mining on public lands and to share our concerns with the erosion of vital guardrails being proposed
Coalition Testifies Before House Committee on FLASH Act
Statement for the Record Bob Krumenaker Retired National Park Service Superintendent Big Bend National Park and Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River US House Natural Resources Committee Subcommittee on Federal Lands Legislative Hearing on HR 1820 (Rep. Ciscomani) Federal Lands Amplified Security for the Homeland (FLASH) Act March 11, 2025 INTRODUCTION Good morning Chairman Tiffany,
Member Op-Ed: Federal workers deserve better
Federal workers deserve better Our precious public lands are not red or blue. Some are sacred. Some are waterways. They are forests, deserts or grasslands. And some tower over our landscapes topped with snow where eagles soar. Here in the Four Corners, we are fortunate to have access to these special places where no matter
NPS Visitation Hit Record High in 2024 While the Current Administration Continues to Slash Jobs
NPS Visitation Hit Record High in 2024 While the Current Administration Continues to Slash Jobs The National Park Service (NPS) reported a record 331.9 million recreation visits in calendar year 2024, an increase of 6.36 million recreation visits from 2023. “This is a clear indication of how much Americans love their national parks,” said
Coalition Joins NY Historic Preservation Organizations Speaking Out Against Rewriting of History
On February 13, the National Park Service removed all instances of the words Transgender and Queer from the Stonewall National Monument website, as well as other sites and resources referencing LGBTQ+ history. In 1999, Stonewall was the first site in the country listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its significance to LGBTQ+
The Coalition and Association of National Park Rangers Protest Termination of Probationary NPS Employees
The Honorable Jessica Bowron Acting Director National Park Service SENT VIA EMAIL Dear Acting NPS Director Bowron, As the CEOs of our respective non-profit organizations, the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks and the Association of National Park Rangers, we have been closely following the recent decision to terminate probationary employees from the NPS. Our
Coalition Joins 495 Groups Protesting Recent Mass Firing of Federal Employees Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, USDA Forest Service and the National Park Service
February 28, 2025 United States Senators and Representatives, On behalf of our members, supporters, and volunteer stewards, we write with significant concerns regarding the recent mass firing of federal employees still within their probationary periods, particularly those individuals who had been employed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS),
Coalition Comments on Parcels for Inclusion in the BLM Montana-Dakotas 2025 Third Quarter Oil and Gas Lease Sale
February 28, 2025 Bureau of Land Management Montana/Dakotas State Office Attention: Hattie Payne 5001 Southgate Drive Billings, MT 59101 Subject: Scoping comments on parcels under consideration for inclusion in the BLM Montana-Dakotas 2025 Third Quarter (September) Oil and Gas Lease Sale (DOI-BLM-MT-0000-2025-0001-EA) To whom it may concern: Thank you for the opportunity to submit these
Federal Court Finds Firing of Probationary Federal Employees Illegal
February 27, 2025 Federal Court Finds Firing of Probationary Federal Employees Illegal Judge Alsup calls probationary federal employees “the lifeblood of our government” SAN FRANCISCO – Today, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, presided over by Judge William H. Alsup, granted a temporary restraining order against the Office of Personnel Management
Member Op-Ed: They Don’t Know What They Don’t Know
They Don’t Know What They Don’t Know opening the Going to-the- Sun Road, clearing trails, opening backcountry sites and facilities and preparing visitor centers may be delayed BY CHIP WEBER & JEFF MOW FEBRUARY 25, 2025 Much has been written and broadcast recently regarding the impacts of the Trump administration and particularly the Department of
Coalition Joins Over 260 Groups in Opposition to House Budget Resolution
United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 February 24, 2025 Dear Representatives, As you prepare to take up a budget resolution as the first step in the reconciliation process, our organizations from the democracy, good government, labor, immigration, energy, environment, tax, budget, health, gender justice, human needs and other sectors representing millions of people
Coalition Joins Group of Unions, Small Businesses, Veterans, and Conservation Organizations and Seeks Injunction to Prevent Unlawful Firings
Coalition of Unions, Small Businesses, Veterans, and Conservation Organizations Seek Injunction to Prevent Unlawful Firings Amended Complaint also Targets Illegal “Five Things” Email February 24, 2025 – WASHINGTON, D.C. – In their lawsuit attempting to block the unlawful mass terminations of probationary federal employees, some of the nation’s largest and most influential public service unions,
Coalition Joins Amicus Brief to Protect Wilderness Battlefield
Washington, DC – Today, the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks filed a joint amicus brief, accompanied by a motion for leave to file such brief, in a pivotal legal challenge intended to protect Wilderness Battlefield, an area of Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National
Coalition Supports Maryland Bill HB-741 – Phase-Out Lead Ammunition
February 19, 2025 The Honorable Marc Korman, Chair Environment & Transportation Committee 250 Taylor House Office Building Annapolis, MD 21401 Re: HB 741 – Hunting – Nonlead Ammunition, et al., FAVORABLE Dear Chairman Korman, Vice Chair Boyce and Members of the Committee: Thank you for this opportunity to weigh in on this important issue on behalf
Coalition Joins 247 Organizations Opposing Bills Which Would Effectively Repeal the Antiquities Act of 1906
RE: Oppose S.220/H.R.521, which would effectively repeal the Antiquities Act of 1906 Dear Senators and Members of Congress, On behalf of the 247 undersigned organizations and our millions of members across the country, we write to strongly urge you to OPPOSE any legislative attempts to repeal or undermine the Antiquities Act, including S.220/H.R.521 recently introduced
USA Today: How National Park Service layoffs could stretch some parks to their limits
How National Park Service layoffs could stretch some parks to their limits By Eve Chen National parks have not been spared in the wave of federal government layoffs, and that could impact park visits heading into their busy season. “We could be putting several park units in very bad, sticky situations where they can’t manage
NPT: One-Thousand National Park Service Staff Fired, Seasonal Hiring Resuming
UPDATE | One-Thousand National Park Service Staff Fired, Seasonal Hiring Resuming By Kurt Repanshek February 14, 2025 Editor’s note: This updates with additional comment from a recently retired National Park Service division chief, a union official, and New Mexico’s congressional delegation. This is a developing story, be sure to check back for more updates. One-thousand
Coalition Joins Comments on Draft Environmental Plans to Protect the Old Spanish National Historic Trail
Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility Coalition To Protect America’s National Parks Western Watersheds Project Basin and Range Watch and John W. Hiscock February 13, 2025 Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Southern Nevada District Las Vegas Field Office 4701 North Torrey Pines Drive Las Vegas, Nevada 89130 Comments – Draft Environmental Impact Statement
SFGATE.com: U.S. senators issue dire warning for national parks
U.S. senators issue dire warning for national parks By Ashley Harrell, National Parks Bureau Chief Feb 7, 2025 Twenty-two democratic and independent U.S. senators sent a letter Friday morning to newly confirmed U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum imploring him to reconsider drastic measures taken by the Trump administration to reduce the workforce of
Coalition Supports Letter Sent to Secretary Burgum on NPS Staffing Concerns
Coalition Supports Letter Sent to Secretary Burgum on NPS Staffing Concerns The Coalition issued a statement of support for a letter sent today, calling on Secretary Burgum to, “immediately reissue seasonal employment offers for the National Park Service, officially rescind damaging and short-sighted deferred resignation and early retirement offers, and to instead work to