“This ill-conceived policy flies in the face of responsible management of national parks, risking both visitor safety and the very resources the Park Service was created and is mandated to protect." - Kristen Brengel, NPCA's SVP of Government Affairs
Washington, DC – Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced a new secretarial order, which forces the Park Service to keep national parks open and accessible, despite parks being dangerously understaffed and underfunded. Secretary Burgum’s order states that to “ensure visitor access and satisfaction, any closures or reductions to operating hours, seasons, or any visitor services (including trails and campgrounds), in whole or in part, must be reviewed by the NPS Director and the Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks prior to any reduction action by the individual park units.” The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) believes this order not only creates more unnecessary roadblocks for parks staff but will also endanger park resources and visitors.
There are more than 430 national park sites across the country, each overseen by a superintendent or manager responsible for daily operations. Decisions about closures or changes in hours aren’t made lightly. These decisions are based on staffing levels, weather, maintenance needs and other park-specific challenges. But under this new order, superintendents would need approval before acting, even when visitor safety or resource protection is on the line. Forcing park superintendents and managers to wait on political sign-off could delay critical decisions and potentially violate the Organic Act. Peak visitation season is upon us and millions of people are traveling to our national parks. When lives and irreplaceable places are on the line, there’s no time to waste.
Statement by Kristen Brengel, SVP of Government Affairs for the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA):
“This is yet another attempt by the administration to sideline the expertise of dedicated park staff. It’s micromanagement at its worst, creating more red tape when park staff are already stretched dangerously thin and dealing with peak visitation season. This order is reckless and out of touch.
“Park mangers know their parks better than anyone. They have been trusted to make short- and long-term decisions to protect visitors and safeguard our most irreplaceable natural and historic treasures. The administration is now tying their hands and forcing them to jump through bureaucratic hoops just to close a trail, campground or visitor center they believe poses a risk or can’t be staffed.
“Years of understaffing and underfunding have already forced many parks to scale back visitor center hours and visitor services. And in a matter of weeks, the administration has made a bad situation worse, pushing out hundreds more park staff and piling on obstacles that prevent park staff from doing their jobs. They are setting the Park Service up for failure.
“This ill-conceived policy flies in the face of responsible management of national parks, risking both visitor safety and the very resources the Park Service was created and is mandated to protect. That’s why NPCA is urging Secretary Burgum to immediately retract this order for the protection of our parks and the millions who visit them.”
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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.
