The original version of this article appeared on ExplorersWeb.
The federal hiring freeze initiated by President Donald Trump could have consequences reaching all the way to North America’s highest peak. Unless something changes, the search-and-rescue team at Alaska’s Denali National Park will be reduced by 50%. That’s because half of the park’s rescuers are seasonal workers affected by Trump’s plan to rapidly shrink the federal government.
As a result, only six rangers will watch over the climbers on North America’s highest peak and over the visitors scattered across 2.5 million hectares of wilderness, according to interviews with park officials.
Of the six climbing rangers with permanent positions, two are supervisors who need to stay around the office. This leaves only four rescuers for a mountain that may have over 500 climbers on its busiest days. The Alaska Range also includes many highly technical peaks for skilled alpinists and skiers that may require rescue operations.
Many national park employees received an email from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management with the subject line “A Fork in the Road.” It promised a few months of salary if they resign voluntarily. About 2 million U.S. government workers received this email 2 weeks ago, Fortune reported.
The initiative comes from the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), spearheaded by Elon Musk.

A Slim Chance
Trump signed a “hiring freeze” executive order on January 20, which stopped the hiring of all federal employees. Like many other national park staff, six of the 12 search-and-rescue members at Denali National Park are seasonal and are typically rehired for each climbing season. This begins in late April and climaxes in May and June before tapering off in early July.
Politico quoted reports from these seasonal workers, who were told “they no longer had offers.” There remains a slim hope to avoid the decimation of search-and-rescue operations, as the order includes a possible loophole.
“No federal civilian position that is vacant at noon on January 20, 2025, may be filled, and no new position may be created except as otherwise provided for in this memorandum or other applicable law,” according to the executive order.
But it added that the order does not apply to “positions related to immigration enforcement, national security, or public safety.” Since search and rescue encompasses public safety, there remains a chance to save the jobs.

Uncertainty and Lack of Time

The Rangers’ Role
