Staffing crunch in national parks: From restrooms to research, Trump's cuts have affected everything from summer staffing to research.

According to two sources familiar with the situation, Yosemite National Park, in California, is one of the most popular and oldest natural preserves in the United States. The staff there has been stretched so thin that this season, nearly all employees, including scientists, have to clean campground toilets.

One source said that the staff hydrologist, as well as an expert in invasive species, have been posted to entry gates, where they will be processing visitors. This is a task normally performed by seasonal workers or junior staff who are paid less.

The shortage of workers in national parks is a result of the understaffing and budget cuts made by the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, the tech billionaire, and President Donald Trump.

In an email, the NPS stated that staff members may be asked to perform additional duties to ensure parks remain open and safe.

The NPS stated that "at times, team members can step in to a variety of responsibilities beyond their normal scope to ensure continued access, security, and stewardship throughout the park system."

The park encouraged visitors to plan ahead by checking park alerts, understanding site guidelines and planning in advance.

Kevin Heatley, the former park superintendent who quit in May due to staff shortages, explained that workers in Crater Lake, Oregon, 800 km (500 miles) north of Portland, are so overworked they would be unable to clear snow and ice from the roads in time for the return of tourists in large numbers in the next few weeks.

Conservationists point out that extremes like these could be signs of a busy, but uncertain, summer season for the National Park Service. Already stretched by the growing number of visitors, and years of low funding, it may face a busy, but uncertain, summer.

According to the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), a watchdog and advocacy group, the NPS has lost 13 percent of its 20,000 strong workforce since Trump's inauguration in January. The group attributes much of this drop to staff accepting buyouts from DOGE.

The Trump administration did not provide its own numbers.

It is possible that Trump could face a backlash from the public if the conditions in national parks are not pleasant for tourists this summer. While Americans are increasingly divided over a number of key issues the majority view the parks as beloved and affordable vacation destinations.

They are also visiting in record numbers. In 2018, national parks welcomed 331 million visitors. This is a record high and an increase of 6 million since 2023.

Anna Kelly, Trump’s deputy White House Press Secretary, said that the parks would be in perfect condition for visitors. Kelly stated that President Trump ensures agencies in the United States run more efficiently, while maintaining great services for Americans.

"A REALLY TOUGH Summer"

Kristen Brengel is a senior executive at the NPCA. She said that some parks are having difficulty hiring and retaining enough park rangers, search and rescue personnel, and other staff. This could pose a risk to the safety of visitors.

It could take longer for emergency personnel to reach hikers who are suffering from heat exhaustion and injuries. Brengel stated that a smaller ranger force means more visitors will venture into the backcountry, near geysers, steep ledges and wild bison.

Brengel stated that this summer will be tough for many parks.

The NPS didn't respond to a question about the NPCA’s concerns regarding potential safety issues.

Yellowstone's superintendent Cam Sholly insists that staffing in the geothermal wonderland - the oldest national park of the United States and one of its most popular - "is higher than at any time over the past five years, going into summer."

He said, "Our critical posts are filled" last month, at a season-opening event in Cody Wyoming, the gateway city on the eastern edge of Yellowstone National Park.

PARK LEADER QUITS

Some park managers had to deal with tough times even before the summer. Heatley left his position just five months after he became Crater Lake Superintendent.

He said the park had been understaffed for many years. However, recent DOGE demands, including telling federal employees to send an email every week justifying their job, has caused low morale.

He said that he had resigned as he no longer felt able to protect the safety and health of his employees or visitors.

It is essential to clear the roads before the tourist season in order to avoid the park's cobalt lake, which has the largest depth in the United States. This year, it received over 36 feet (11 metres) of snow.

He said, "Crater Lake has reached a point in which we cannot afford to lose one staff member."

The park has 45 permanent staff, but 18 positions are vacant due to Trump's hiring ban.

"Crater Lake lies on a precipice." You are like a man who is starving and taking another half of his food.

Low Staffing Before Trump

Some are more optimistic. Jonathan Farrington, CEO, Yosemite Mariposa County Tourism Bureau said that he was told only 13 NPS jobs had been cut in Yosemite and that none of them involved law enforcement positions or positions with the public.

He said that the visitor experience at Yosemite this year will be outstanding.

The National Park Service is a federal agency under the U.S. Interior Department. It manages 85 million acres of land set aside for conservation and recreation within America's scenic natural wonders and historic landmarks. Interior Department manages 85,000,000 acres of land set aside for conservation, recreation and historical landmarks.

Yellowstone National Park was created by Congress in 1872. The park system continued to expand, and President Woodrow Wilson signed the National Park Service Act in 1916.

Today, its portfolio includes 433 park units. These range from smaller sites, such as Independence Hall in Philadelphia, and Ford's Theatre, in Washington, to 63 national parks of varying sizes, including Yosemite National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Grand Canyon, and Great Smoky Mountains.

The NPCA reported that even before Trump's second tenure began, staffing in parks had decreased by 20% between 2010 and 2015, despite an increase of 16% for admissions during the same time period. This put more pressure on the infrastructure.

In February, Trump's administration ordered the firing of 1,000 newly hired workers from the NPS. Although the decision was reversed later, parks are now racing against time to rehire these workers even though summer has already started.

In April, perhaps aware of the potential political fallout that could result from this order, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum issued an order requiring "all national parks remain open and accessible", and "to provide the best customer service for all visitors."

Brengel noted that despite Burgum's public promise to hire 7,700 seasonal park rangers this summer, NPCA data shows only 3,300 were hired by May 13.

Former Yellowstone Superintendent Dan Wenk said park managers could make due with short-term research, wildlife and habitat projects and nature tours to keep the roads open and clean.

Wenk stated that "if the expectation is that the parks will provide the same service level this year as last year, then that cannot be met." Reporting by Ruffin Prvost in Cody and Steve Gorman in Los Angeles, and Tim Reid, in Washington. Editing by Ross Colvin, Aurora Ellis, and Ross Colvin.

(source: Reuters)