Interior Secretary Faces Backlash Over Overseas Trip During Shutdown By Maxine Joselow | The New York Times | Nov. 4, 2025 As the U.S. government shutdown continues to strain federal operations, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum is drawing criticism for embarking on a weeklong trip across the Middle East and Europe. His itinerary includes major energy
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 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 –
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
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
Coalition Supports Rob Wallace Nomination
May 29, 2019 Honorable Lisa Murkowski Chairman Committee on Energy and Natural Resources U.S. Senate Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Madam Chairman: We, the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, write this letter in support of Rob Wallace for the position of Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Fish and Wildlife and Parks. The Coalition
Media Interest Surrounds Coalition’s Shutdown Impact Survey on National Parks
Coalition Executive Council Member Maria Burks Speaks with The Cape Cod Times on the shutdown impact survey at Cape Cod National Seashore – click here to read the article. Coalition Chair Phil Francis Speaks with CBS-19 on the impacts of the shutdown at Shenandoah National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway – click here to
Coalition Releases Summary of Shutdown Impact Survey
Park Impact Survey Summary of Results The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (Coalition) represents over 1,600 current, former, and retired employees and volunteers of the National Park Service. The Coalition counts among its members former National Park Service directors, deputy directors, regional directors, superintendents, park rangers (law enforcement and interpretive), maintenance professionals, administrative
Coalition Testifies on Use of Fee Money During Shutdown
Statement of Philip A. Francis, Jr. Chair of the Executive Council, Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks The Power of the Purse: A Review of Agency Spending Restrictions During a Shutdown Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Committee on Appropriations House of Representatives February 6, 2019 Rep. McCollum, Rep. Joyce, and members of
Coalition Chair Phil Francis Speaks to Use of Fee Money and Losses from Shutdown
Coalition Chair Phil Francis was quoted in a recent article from The Hill, addressing the struggle in national parks to cope with the loss of over a month of work time and up to $11 million in revenue thanks to the recent government shutdown.
Shutdown Damage Assessment Is Only Just Beginning
For Immediate Release: 31 January 2019 Shutdown Damage Assessment Is Only Just Beginning Though the federal government is now open under a continuing resolution, Phil Francis, Chair of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, urges continued government expediency and offers a note of caution. “We are happy to have National Park Service employees back
Coalition Joins Call for DOI to Postpone Lease Sales During Shutdown
VIA E-MAIL January 17, 2019 Mr. David Bernhardt Secretary of the Interior, Acting 1849 C Street, NW Washington, D.C. Re: Postponing BLM Oil & Gas Lease Sales Due to the Partial Government Shutdown Dear Acting Secretary Bernhardt: The undersigned organizations represent millions of members and supporters across the West and the nation who are concerned