“With hundreds of park staff taking the administration’s buyout offer, the Park Service will lose a wealth of expertise, experience and knowledge they will never get back." -- Kristen Brengel, SVP of Government Affairs for the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA)
Below is a statement by Kristen Brengel, SVP of Government Affairs for the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), responding to recent reports that more than 700 National Park Service staff have submitted resignations as part of the administrations “Fork in the Road” buyout offer. Between staff being fired and those resigning under duress, the National Park Service has lost 9% of its staff in only a matter of weeks.
Statement by Kristen Brengel, SVP of Government Affairs for the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA):
“The National Park Service is in crisis and things are only getting worse. In a matter of weeks, 9% of Park Service staff have been lost to mass firings and resignations. And this is on top of hundreds of vacant positions that can’t be filled due to the ongoing hiring freeze. These indiscriminate cuts are neither strategic nor efficient; they are devastating.
“Spring break is only days away, and staffing cuts could leave parks unable to handle emergencies, serve visitors or safeguard precious historic and natural treasures. If seasonal staff can’t be hired in time, smaller parks could be forced to close visitor centers and campgrounds or reduce park hours because there simply aren’t enough people to staff them. Larger parks have already lost key staff including wastewater treatment operators, maintenance workers, dispatchers and fee collectors. And across the National Park System we anticipate a spike in maintenance needs, trash collection issues and so much more.
“These staffing cuts will put a major strain on an already understaffed and overwhelmed Park Service. And with hundreds of park staff taking the administration’s buyout offer, the Park Service will lose a wealth of expertise, experience and knowledge they will never get back. These actions will set the National Park Service back years.
“Weakening the National Park System risks irreversible damage to America’s greatest legacy. Parks are supposed to be where people can experience the best of America, but these cuts put all of that at risk. Enough is enough. The administration must halt this reckless downsizing before it guts our national parks beyond repair.”
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About the National Parks Conservation Association: Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its more than 1.6 million members and supporters work together to protect and preserve our nation’s most iconic and inspirational places for future generations. For more information, visit www.npca.org.
