May 19 2025 This week, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum will testify in front of the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee on Tuesday May 20 and in front of the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee on Wednesday May 21. This administration has made devastating cuts to national parks staff, setting up a potential crisis.
Judge Blocks Unconstitutional Reorganization of Federal Government
Judge Blocks Unconstitutional Reorganization of Federal Government PRESS RELEASE MAY 9, 2025 Case Reflects Largest and Most Significant Challenge to President’s Authority to Remake Government without Congressional Approval Washington, D.C. – The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California San Francisco Division today issued a temporary restraining order to block the Trump administration’s
5 Former Directors of the National Park Service Send Letter to Secretary Burgum Stating His Recent Order Is “Contradictory With The Law And The Intent Of Congress”
5 Former Directors of the National Park Service Send Letter to Secretary Burgum Stating His Recent Order Is “Contradictory With The Law And The Intent Of Congress” Letter Also Signed By 8 Deputy Directors Today, nearly every living former Director of the National Park Service sent a letter to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum
NPS Retirees: Our Public Lands Are Not For Sale
Release Date: May 7, 2025 NPS Retirees: Our Public Lands Are Not For Sale Reconciliation Package Includes the Potential Sale of Public Lands Washington, D.C. — In the middle of the night, Republicans in the House Committee on Natural Resources introduced a last-minute amendment to the budget reconciliation package allowing for land sell-offs in Nevada
House Committee On Natural Resources Reconciliation Bill Will Endanger Public Lands
House Committee On Natural Resources Reconciliation Bill Will Endanger Public Lands Coalition To Protect America’s National Parks Urges Committee To Reject Bill That Prioritizes The Interests Of Oil and Gas Industry Over the Interest Of Taxpayers In response to bill language put out by the House Committee on Natural Resources for their portion of the
Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks Calls Reports of Large Scale RIFs At National Park Service “Worst Case Scenario”
Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks Calls Reports of Large Scale RIFs At National Park Service “Worst Case Scenario” In response to reports that the Interior Department has begun a reduction in force (RIF) that will be “deep and blunt” at the National Park Service, Emily Thompson, Executive Director of the Coalition to Protect America’s
RIFs At National Park Service Would Make A Dire Situation Far Worse
For Immediate Release: April 24, 2025 RIFs At National Park Service Would Make A Dire Situation Far Worse In response to reports that the Interior Department has begun a process that is likely to lead to a reduction in force (RIF) at the National Park Service, Emily Thompson, Executive Director of the Coalition to Protect
Ahead of National Park Week, New Mexico Rep. Gabe Vasquez & National Park Advocates Warn of Staffing Crisis
Ahead of National Park Week, New Mexico Rep. Gabe Vasquez & National Park Advocates Warn of Staffing Crisis As Millions of Americans Head to Public Lands, Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks and Vet Voice Foundation Call Out Dangerous Staffing Cuts and Political Interference in Park Operations, Oppose Public Lands Sell-off Full Recording and Transcript
Our Nation’s National Parks Are Barreling Towards A Crisis
As we head into the holiday weekend, and the start of National Park Week – and with the busy summer season on the horizon – the Trump Administration is trying to assure Americans that despite the administration’s cuts to staff and attempts to gut resources, national parks are operating as normal. Don’t believe their
Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks Applauds Withdrawal of Kathleen Sgamma’s Nomination to be Director of the Bureau of Land Management
For Immediate Release April 10, 2025 Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks Applauds Withdrawal of Kathleen Sgamma’s Nomination to be Director of the Bureau of Land Management Group Urges the Administration to Nominate Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Leader Who Will Appropriately Balance the Needs of America’s Public Lands Washington, DC — Moments before her
Coalition Stands With Senators Heinrich and Hickenlooper in Defending Parks and Public Lands
Coalition Stands With Senators Heinrich and Hickenlooper in Defending Parks and Public Lands During last night’s vote-a-rama, the Senate dismissed the bipartisan amendment from Senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and John Hickenlooper (D-CO) opposing the sale of public lands to pay for the reconciliation bill. Emily Thompson, Executive Director of the Coalition to Protect America’s National
Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks Announces Emily Thompson As New Executive Director
Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks Announces Emily Thompson As New Executive Director At This Critical Time For National Parks, Thompson Vows To Fight Funding And Staffing Cuts The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, a nonpartisan, non-profit organization made up of over 4,000 members, all of whom are current, former, and retired employees or volunteers of
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 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
Federal Court Orders Reinstatement of Fired Probationary Federal Employees
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Nick Voutsinos, nv********@****me.org Tim Kauffman, ti**********@**ge.org Erik Molvar, em*****@***************ds.org Emily Thompson, Em************@********ps.org Christian Hall, pr***@*********************rs.org Matt Corridoni, ma************@******ts.org Cade Cannedy, ca**********@***********es.org March 13, 2025 Federal Court Orders Reinstatement of Fired Probationary Federal Employees Judge rules workers were illegally fired by the Trump administration SAN FRANCISCO – Today, the U.S. District Court
Coalition Participates in Senate Public Lands Round Table
United States Senate FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 6, 2025 Contact: Justin Krakoff/Maggie Sunstrum (Merkley) – 202-224-3753 Contact: Caty Payette (Heinrich) – 202-224-5521 Contact: Matthew Felling (King) – 202-257-7345 Senators Merkley, Heinrich, King Join Illegally Fired Federal Workers to Stress Dangers of Public Lands Staffing Shortages ***VIDEO FROM ROUNDTABLE HERE*** Washington, D.C. – Senate Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Jeff Merkley (D-OR),
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
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
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 Condemns Weekend Chaos Caused by Trump Administration
Coalition Condemns Weekend Chaos Caused by Trump Administration In response to an email sent to federal employees on Saturday, which demanded that federal workers summarize their accomplishments for the week, and additional messaging that warned that “failure to respond will be taken as resignation,” Phil Francis, Chair of the Executive Council of the
Shortsighted Layoffs Threaten Parks and Visitor Experience
Release Date: February 14, 2025 Media Contact: Amy Gilbert Fehir, Am*********@********ps.org, (202) 819-8622 Coalition: Shortsighted Layoffs Threaten Parks and Visitor Experience “We are Losing the Future Leaders of the NPS” As the current Administration fires probationary employees and reinstates seasonal job offers, Phil Francis, Chair of the Executive Council of the Coalition to Protect America’s
National Parks at Risk: The Impact of Federal Job Cuts
Release Date: January 31, 2025 Media Contact: Emily Thompson, Em************@********ps.org, 202-758-3936 National Parks at Risk: The Impact of Federal Job Cuts As the current Administration moves to eliminate federal jobs, Phil Francis, Chair of the Executive Council of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, issued the following statement: “Our members represent more than 50,000
Coalition Defends Antiquities Act
Release Date: January 17, 2024 Media Contact: Emily Thompson, Em************@********ps.org, 202-758-3936 Coalition Defends Antiquities Act Today, U.S. Representatives Celeste Maloy (UT-02) and Mark Amodei (NV-02) introduced legislation that would strip presidential authority to designate national monuments under the Antiquities Act. Phil Francis, Chair of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, issued the following statement:
Coalition Applauds Designation of Chuckwalla and Sáttítla National Monuments
Release Date: January 7, 2025 Media Contact: Emily Thompson Em************@********ps.org 202-758-3936 Coalition Applauds Designation of Chuckwalla and Sáttítla National Monuments Today, President Biden used his authority under the Antiquities Act to designate the Chuckwalla National Monument and the Sáttítla Highlands National Monument, both located in California. Following the announcement, Phil Francis, Chair of the Executive
Coalition Condemns Looming Government Shutdown
Release Date: December 19, 2024 Media Contact: Emily Thompson, Em************@********ps.org, 202-758-3936 Coalition Condemns Looming Government Shutdown Phil Francis, Chair of The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, issued the following statement on the potential government shutdown: “We are deeply concerned about the potential of a government shutdown, particularly during the holiday season when federal