The National Park Services (NPS) and U.S. Forest Services (USFS) are currently short-staffed following mass layoffs under the Trump Administration's federal budget cuts. The sudden firings began on Valentine's Day and have since posed concerns about shutdowns of national parks.
A month after the terminations, more park service sites announced hour reductions and campground closures. About 4,000 campsites are set to close this summer, with layoffs expected to continue until April.
Here's everything you should know about these adjustments and the uncertainties behind them, so you can plan your camping trips accordingly.
About 4,000 Campsites Are Set To Close Across California Alone
Many California campsites may close partially or the entire summer
On March 5, the New York Times reported that about 4,000 campsites are set to close this summer in California. 18 national forests could close for parts or the whole season. Yosemite National Park has also resumed advanced limited campground reservations for summer.
Some of the USFS areas affected by the campsite closures in California this summer:
For instance, the Pacific Crest Trail—a 2,650-mile trail spanning from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon, and Washington—faces safety concerns amid funding delays as its $667,000 federal grant is reportedly frozen. One million hikers take this popular route each year.
Over 4,000 NPS And USFS Workers Were Fired Under Trump's Federal CutsU.S. national forests and parks are losing important personnel3,400 USFS staff (10% of its total workforce) and 1,000 NPS employees (5% of the agency's crew) were laid off under the Trump Administration's hiring freeze. 5,000 significant seasonal workers were also let go.
California was hit hard by the cuts, with at least 84 valuable NPS personnel fired during the sweeping reductions. According to the POTUS, the downsizing is necessary as the government is "bloated" and "sloppy" with "a lot of people that aren't doing their job."
The White House released a memo, claiming: "The federal government is costly, inefficient, and deeply in debt. At the same time, it is not producing results for the American public."
However, conservation experts anticipate these terminations could cause irreversible damage to protected natural areas. Joshua Tree National Park faces near-future wildlife extinctions following the removal of 400 Fish and Wildlife Service members.
Reinstated NPS And USFS Employees Are Not Getting Their Jobs BackRehired U.S. forest and park workers are being placed on leaveMany "illegally" fired national park employees have been reinstated following a judge's order in mid-March. However, some rehired workers revealed that they were either placed on administrative leave or offered an early retirement upon return.
On March 25, Fortune published a story about those who decided to leave their government positions despite the legal reinstatement. While there were "full pay and benefits" in those leaves, many of the workers opted out as they truly believed in the significance of their jobs.
Eric Anderson, a biological science technician in Indiana Dunes National Park, was excited to get his job back. However, he admitted to hearing about "weird" changes within their crew.
"I've heard that some people's positions have changed from doing what they normally do to doing something completely weird and different," Anderson explained. "It'll be interesting going back and seeing if stuff still changes by the day."
In light of these unpredictable operational changes, visitors are advised to keep themselves informed of the USFS and NPS announcements. For those planning to camp during the busy summer season, make sure to make reservations in advance (if available) and keep yourself updated with your chosen park's warnings.
CLICK HERE to see the original article and photos in TheTravel.com
A month after the terminations, more park service sites announced hour reductions and campground closures. About 4,000 campsites are set to close this summer, with layoffs expected to continue until April.
Here's everything you should know about these adjustments and the uncertainties behind them, so you can plan your camping trips accordingly.
About 4,000 Campsites Are Set To Close Across California Alone
Many California campsites may close partially or the entire summer
On March 5, the New York Times reported that about 4,000 campsites are set to close this summer in California. 18 national forests could close for parts or the whole season. Yosemite National Park has also resumed advanced limited campground reservations for summer.
Some of the USFS areas affected by the campsite closures in California this summer:
- Desolation Wilderness
- Inyo National Forest
- Eldorado National Forest
- Lassen National Forest
- Shasta-Trinity National Forest
- San Bernardino National Forest
- Sequoia National Forest
- Six Rivers National Forest
For instance, the Pacific Crest Trail—a 2,650-mile trail spanning from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon, and Washington—faces safety concerns amid funding delays as its $667,000 federal grant is reportedly frozen. One million hikers take this popular route each year.
Over 4,000 NPS And USFS Workers Were Fired Under Trump's Federal CutsU.S. national forests and parks are losing important personnel3,400 USFS staff (10% of its total workforce) and 1,000 NPS employees (5% of the agency's crew) were laid off under the Trump Administration's hiring freeze. 5,000 significant seasonal workers were also let go.
California was hit hard by the cuts, with at least 84 valuable NPS personnel fired during the sweeping reductions. According to the POTUS, the downsizing is necessary as the government is "bloated" and "sloppy" with "a lot of people that aren't doing their job."
The White House released a memo, claiming: "The federal government is costly, inefficient, and deeply in debt. At the same time, it is not producing results for the American public."
However, conservation experts anticipate these terminations could cause irreversible damage to protected natural areas. Joshua Tree National Park faces near-future wildlife extinctions following the removal of 400 Fish and Wildlife Service members.
Reinstated NPS And USFS Employees Are Not Getting Their Jobs BackRehired U.S. forest and park workers are being placed on leaveMany "illegally" fired national park employees have been reinstated following a judge's order in mid-March. However, some rehired workers revealed that they were either placed on administrative leave or offered an early retirement upon return.
On March 25, Fortune published a story about those who decided to leave their government positions despite the legal reinstatement. While there were "full pay and benefits" in those leaves, many of the workers opted out as they truly believed in the significance of their jobs.
Eric Anderson, a biological science technician in Indiana Dunes National Park, was excited to get his job back. However, he admitted to hearing about "weird" changes within their crew.
"I've heard that some people's positions have changed from doing what they normally do to doing something completely weird and different," Anderson explained. "It'll be interesting going back and seeing if stuff still changes by the day."
In light of these unpredictable operational changes, visitors are advised to keep themselves informed of the USFS and NPS announcements. For those planning to camp during the busy summer season, make sure to make reservations in advance (if available) and keep yourself updated with your chosen park's warnings.
CLICK HERE to see the original article and photos in TheTravel.com
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