National parks have been hemorrhaging park rangers since the Trump administration’s recent focus on cutting funds from programs it has deemed unnecessary. As the 750+ former federal employees have made their exit, the dialogue on the decision has been met with protesting, confusion, and further insistence by the administration that federal programs are a drawback to the nation’s economy.
This decision was one of the many inaugural choices by the Trump administration, and in similar fashion sparked protests, maybe most famously including an upside down flag display at Yosemite National Park.
Tracy Barbutes/San Francisco Chronicle
Yosemite requires around 2000 employees to run the 1200 square mile landscape, and employees both current and former have expressed frustration at the implications financially, some pointing out that last year’s expenditure was $33 billion in GDP and generated 55.5 billion in goods and services.
With some parks experiencing closures over the past few months, the public has been alerted that there may be a reduction in service quality and availability of park staff. Additionally, a reduction of employees also means increased workload for existing workers.
Bill Wade, the executive director of the Association of National Park Rangers, told NPR exactly what changes will be made at the park as a direct result of the firings.
“They’re typically the ones that do the fee collection at the entrance stations during that period of time,” he said. “They work in the visitor centers and keep them open and staffed and give the ranger-led programs. They are often the custodians that keep the campgrounds clean and the restrooms clean and pick up the trash.”
Since the firings, some federal employees have communicated their frustrations to the general public, in order to make these consequences known. Alt National Park Services, a self proclaimed “resistance” team of national park service members, is a Facebook group now four million followers strong, and has maintained a vocal presence while the current administration continues to cut federal programs.
As for the near future, parks like Yosemite are working to reinstate workers on the grounds that the firings were too abrupt, and the public will suffer if nothing is done.
