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, issued the following statement:
“Today, approximately 1,000 National Park Service (NPS) employees lost their jobs. The decision to terminate probationary employees is shortsighted, prioritizing rapid workforce reduction over the essential roles these individuals fill. A limited exemption for public safety is insufficient to mitigate the impact. In an agency that has already experienced a significant staffing decline over the past decade, these layoffs will severely affect park operations and the visitor experience.
At the same time, the administration is reinstating 5,000 seasonal job offers that were previously rescinded due to the federal hiring freeze. While we welcome this reversal—thanks to the many individuals and organizations who underscored the necessity of seasonal NPS employees—these jobs should never have been in jeopardy. As parks prepare for the busy season, we urge the administration to act swiftly in reinstating offers and look forward to hearing details on the process and timeline for reinstatement.
National Park Service employees dedicate their careers to preserving our nation’s most treasured landscapes and historic sites. We should be supporting them—not jeopardizing their livelihoods or discouraging their commitment to public service. We are losing the future leaders of the National Park Service.”
Release Date: February 14, 2025
Media Contact: Amy Gilbert Fehir, Am*********@********ps.org, (202) 819-8622
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The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks represents over 3,400 current, former, and retired employees and volunteers of the National Park Service, with over 50,000 collective years of stewardship of America’s most precious natural and cultural resources. Recognized as the Voices of Experience, the Coalition educates, speaks, and acts for the preservation and protection of the National Park System, and mission-related programs of the National Park Service. More information can be found at https://protectnps.org