President Donald Trump and Elon Musk have not spared the country’s national parks from their purge of tens of thousands of government workers.
They’ve laid off thousands of workers from the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. They’ve also instituted spending freezes, delayed the hiring of seasonal workers, and started the process of selling off government buildings, including 34 on public lands.
Now, Trump is eyeing even more cuts to the National Park Service.
The White House now plans to eliminate 30% of payroll at the agency, The Hill reported this week. That wouldn’t necessarily lead to a 30% reduction in national park staff, as some workers earn more than others, according to the Washington, D.C.-based publication.
However, sources familiar with the planned cuts said they would still be felt at the National Park Service and could impact those planning to visit the parks this summer. In the short term, the reduction would likely lead to losses of more park rangers and janitors. In the long term, it could put conservation projects at risk, according to former parks officials.
Trump and his administration have repeatedly argued that deep cuts to the government workforce are necessary to bring down the national debt. Parks advocates point out that NPS’s annual funding, at $3.2 billion in 2024, accounts for less than 0.15% of the federal budget.
Conservation Groups Sue Over Layoffs
Since Trump first began his firing frenzy in mid-February, the legality of the layoffs has been questioned by conservation groups, labor unions, and parks advocates. The firings of so many federal workers have resulted in ongoing court battles between the White House and federal judges questioning the legality of the layoffs.
One of those judges ordered the administration to reinstate thousands of fired workers on Thursday, CNN reported. It wasn’t immediately clear if the Trump administration would comply with that order or attempt an appeal.
But Trump is also facing legal challenges elsewhere. A coalition of various organizations filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Trump created the new agency and put Musk, the richest person in the world, in charge of trimming the federal government.
The lawsuit, filed in district court in Washington, D.C., last week, accuses Musk and DOGE of “acting beyond their power to slash federal funding, dismantle federal agencies and fire federal employees.” Groups behind the joint lawsuit include The Sierra Club, Union of Concerned Scientists, Asian Pacific American Advocates, and the Japanese American Citizens League. Campaign Legal Center, a nonprofit legal organization, is representing all four organizations.
