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The Guardian
13-06-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
US night-sky agency threatened by Trump administration funding cuts
The Trump administration appears poised to cut the US Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division (NSNSD), a little-known office that works to rein in noise and light pollution in national parks, a task that is seen as a vital environmental endeavor. Advocates say the division's work is quiet but important – many plants and animals rely on the darkness, and light pollution is contributing to firefly and other insect die-offs. The office led efforts to reduce light pollution at the Grand Canyon and snowmobile noise that drowned out sounds emanating from the Old Faithful geyser, among other initiatives. 'They're a small but mighty program,' said Kristen Brengel, vice-president of government affairs for the National Park Conservation Association, which advocates for the national park system. 'When you think about it, the national parks are a full sensory experience … and there are scientists behind the scenes who are making sure that you have that world-class experience,' Brengel added. The office is an example of what would be lost if the Trump administration is successful in implementing deep cuts to the US National Park Service, shifting its focus from enhancing and preserving parks to simply managing visitors. The agency's stewardship budget, which funds the NSNSD's office of about 10 employees, is facing a proposed reduction from about $375m to $185m, and advocates say the office is almost certainly threatened. The National Park Service's Fort Collins, Colorado, office, out of which the NSNSD operates, was initially targeted by Elon Musk's 'department of government efficiency' for closure. Court battles have tied up the Trump administration's reduction-in-force (RIF) proposals, for now putting its National Park Service plans on hold. 'Our concern is that this little-known division will be decimated amid the cuts because its work is underappreciated,' said Ruskin Hartley, CEO of DarkSky International, which shares data with the NSNSD and has a similar mission. The NSNSD and the National Park Service did not respond to requests for comment. The NSNSD was established in 2000 with an aim to 'protect, maintain, and restore acoustical and dark night sky environments' throughout the park system. In practice, that's meant a combination of improving lighting in public parks, preserving darkness for wildlife, performing research and promoting dark sky tourism, which is booming, Hartley said. Light pollution is increasing globally at about 10% annually, and around 60% of all known species are nocturnal and rely on the darkness, DarkSky estimates. Light pollution is particularly hard on migratory birds that rely on the moon and stars to navigate, and are drawn to bright light sources, and the light can also disrupt plants' photosynthesis process. The NSNSD in recent decades helped lead projects that aimed to improve lighting at many of the nation's 430 parks, seashores and sites. It retrofitted 5,000 lights in the Grand Canyon national park with lower-watt LEDs that reduced spillage into the sky, and which turned the area into a certified dark sky park. It also adjusted the lighting at the Mt Rushmore national park to reduce spillover, and improved lighting at the Gateway Arch in St Louis. The latter's lights are now turned off during periods of heavy bird traffic in migratory season. Sign up to This Week in Trumpland A deep dive into the policies, controversies and oddities surrounding the Trump administration after newsletter promotion The NSNSD also aims to ensure people can see the stars. For its purposes and those of DarkSky International, the definition of a 'dark sky' is anywhere in which one can view the Milky Way, Hartley said. About 83% of the US population lives in an area where they cannot. 'You want to have lighting that protects and respects the natural darkness in those parks,' Hartley said. The NSNSD has also 'pioneered' ways to measure, assess, and track changes in natural darkness over time, and it publishes papers on night sky quality, Hartley said. The NSNSD's sounds department helped resolve a 2013 controversy over snowmobiles at Yellowstone. Dozens of extremely loud two-stroke snowmobiles that would gather daily at the Old Faithful geyser were drowning out its sounds, scaring bison and generally degrading the experience, Brengel said. Employees from the NSNSD measured the noise, determined the level at which natural sounds could be heard and wildlife would be less scared. It helped develop rules that required quieter four-stroke snowmobile engines, and limited their numbers to 10 at a time. The effort was seen as a happy compromise, Brengel said. 'They figure out ways to maximize natural sounds while still getting people out in the parks,' Brengel said. 'It's an innovative program that ensures the visitor experience stays intact.' The fight over reduction-in-force proposals in court is important to the NSNSD's survival, Brengel said, but her group is also alerting members of Congress to what the park service cuts would mean. Should the cuts go through, the park service would become a 'visitors' service agency', Brengel added, and would be unable to protect cultural and natural resources, as is statutorily mandated. 'We would sue,' Brengel said.
Newsweek
30-05-2025
- Newsweek
National Parks Face 'Lowest Staffing in Modern History' Ahead of Summer
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. As summer approaches, the National Park Service is facing what has been described as its "lowest staffing levels in modern history," raising concerns about the agency's ability to manage record-high visitor numbers. Kristen Brengel, the National Parks Conservation Association's senior vice president of government affairs, said in a recent webcast hosted by environmental nonprofit Oregon Wild that "this is probably the lowest staffing in modern history for the park service," according to reporting by California-based news website SFGate. Newsweek has contacted the National Parks Conservation Association and the National Park Service via email for comment. File photo: visitors take in the scenery from Tunnel View in Yosemite National Park, California. File photo: visitors take in the scenery from Tunnel View in Yosemite National Park, California. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/San Francisco Chronicle via AP Why It Matters The staffing crisis comes at a time when the country's many national parks are drawing record visitor levels. In 2024, the National Park Service reported a record-high number of people visiting the national parks - at more than 331 million recreational visits. However, federal budget decisions are making it harder for the National Park Service to respond to the increased demand, particularly as it navigates a shortage of staff. What To Know The National Park Service has seen a 20 percent reduction of staff since 2010, and since January it has seen an additional 13 percent decrease in employees, according to the National Parks Conversation Association. The park service has only hired around 3,000 of the promised 7,700 seasonal employees it vowed to take on after its hiring process was frozen and many permanent staff were laid off in February. Earlier this year, President Donald Trump signed an executive order mandating an immediate hiring freeze on the federal government, prohibiting any federal office from hiring new employees until late April. While the president made some seasonal employees exempt from the hiring freeze, the park service is still going "into the heaviest visitation seasons for the parks, and they are completely understaffed with seasonals," Brengel said, according to SFGate. In addition to the staffing challenges, the budget bill passed by the House of Representatives earlier this month proposed cutting all the remaining Inflation Reduction Act funding for the National Park Service. This included $267 million, which the National Parks Conservation Association said could have supported critical park staffing needs. The association said the funding was "essential" for "national park staffing and greenlighting mining development near Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, in the same watershed as Voyageurs National Park." After thousands of park advocates spoke out, the final version of the bill has removed certain provisions, including one which would have seen thousands of acres of land in Utah and Nevada transferred elsewhere. What People Are Saying Daniel Hart, Director of Clean Energy and Climate Policy in the National Park Conservation Association, said in a press release in May on the staffing issues: "As we speak, hundreds of millions of visitors are making their way to America's national parks and nearby communities. And rather than provide support for our overwhelmed park staff, Congress is pushing a bill that will only make matters worse for Americans who not only love their public lands, but pay taxpayer dollars to ensure their protection and care." What Happens Next The so-called One Big Beautiful Bill now heads to the Senate.
New York Times
22-04-2025
- New York Times
An Acadia-to-Zion Guide to Visiting National Parks in an Uncertain Summer
Firings, resignations and delays in seasonal hiring have clouded the coming vacation season at the 433 sites and 85 million acres managed by the National Park Service. Parks are already closing campgrounds, cutting hours and reducing services, and insiders are predicting a challenging summer. Weeks after President Trump took office, the administration abruptly dismissed more than 1,000 permanent, full-time N.P.S. workers, and at least 700 more took buyouts. The park service usually operates with about 20,000 total employees, including approximately 7,000 seasonal workers. Conflicting court rulings have since reinstated laid-off employees and then given the government permission to fire them again. Another round of buyouts announced in early April could increase the total number of staff departures to around 2,500, according to Kristen Brengel, senior vice president for government affairs at the National Parks Conservation Association. On top of all this, many of the reinstated employees have simply decided not to return to their posts. The chaos comes after the national parks, already chronically underfunded, welcomed a record 332 million visitors last year. This summer is likely to bring bigger crowds, longer entry waits, closed trails, uncleaned toilets, uncollected trash and more. If you go, plan ahead to avoid headaches: Buy a single-park or federal lands pass at in advance, and don't wait to make reservations: Prime campsites and popular tours are already booking up. Officials at the individual parks either declined to comment or referred questions about the cuts to N.P.S. leadership, which did not offer specific responses. But through dozens of interviews and exchanges with tour guides, former park workers, elected officials and others, we compiled tips for visiting 10 of the most popular national parks in this summer of uncertainty. Acadia In 2024, a near-record 3.96 million travelers flocked to Acadia's rugged shorelines, spruce-fir forests, granite peaks and more than 155 miles of trails. The main attraction for many visitors is Cadillac Mountain, which requires a reservation to drive to the summit between May 21 and Oct. 26. At 1,527 feet, Cadillac is the tallest mountain on the U.S. Atlantic Coast. The park typically needs to recruit about 150 seasonal workers, but issues like a lack of affordable housing have plagued the park for years; only four seasonal trail crew members were hired last summer, even though funding allowed for 22. With long lines at fee stations on the horizon, arrive before 9 a.m. and score a spot at busy parking lots like the main Hulls Cove Visitor Center and Sand Beach. Travelers can also ride the free Island Explorer bus, which links sites around the park, or take Oli's Trolley, which is expanding its tours (from $65 per person). Grand Canyon Because of its warm Arizona climate, Grand Canyon National Park, which drew almost five million visitors last year, attracts crowds earlier and later in the season than many other parks. Heavy spring break traffic, combined with staff cuts, has already led to waits of 90 minutes or longer at the South Entrance, said Patrice Horstman, 71, a Coconino County supervisor whose district includes the park's South Rim area. Because of the traffic, the Grand Canyon's Instagram account has cautioned against using the South Entrance between 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., and instead recommends using the Desert View Entrance, on the east side. Scott Cundy, a co-founder of the Wildland Trekking tour company, said visitors should avoid the park on weekends, and enter from the North Rim — 'an overlooked secret' — which opens on May 15. Summer temperatures on the canyon floor routinely top 100 degrees. Visitors should always have plenty of their own water, which is scarce across most of the park. Grand Teton Just 10 miles south of Yellowstone National Park, in Wyoming, Grand Teton National Park attracts everyone from hard-core mountain climbers to picnickers with its dramatic peaks and pristine alpine lakes. But summer traffic in the park can get bad — especially when drivers stop to watch grizzly bears and other animals along the roadside. Traffic jams are largely managed by a trained volunteer 'wildlife brigade,' said Samantha Strauss, 29, a local tour guide for Natural Habitat Adventures. You can leave your car in Jackson and ride a bike or an e-bike to the park (a relatively manageable five miles). Cycling the more than 50 miles of easy, mostly flat paved pathways in and around Grand Teton is a great way to see more, reduce traffic and get some exercise, she said. Aaron Pruzan, 56, the owner of Rendezvous River Sports in Jackson, advised hiking in the middle of the day, driving late or early, and arriving before 9 a.m. at the park's busiest spots, like Jenny Lake and Taggart Lake. Or visit lesser-known gems like String and Leigh Lakes and Schwabacher Landing. Great Smoky Mountains The perennial champion among the nation's busiest national parks, Great Smoky Mountains, in Tennessee and North Carolina, logged 12.2 million visits last year. But all those visitors may be scrambling for places to camp, picnic and hike this summer. Seven picnic sites and six easily accessible campgrounds are listed as closed on the park's website. They have also been blocked from future reservations on Much of the North Carolina section of the park was 'hit pretty hard in September by Hurricane Helene,' said Steve Woody, an emeritus board member of Friends of the Smokies, the park's official nonprofit partner. That includes major sections of the nearby Blue Ridge Parkway. He cautioned that several storm-damaged trails were closed or restricted. The park has 150 backcountry trails covering 848 miles, with 100 backcountry campsites. The firings at the park included about a half-dozen trail maintenance workers, said Bill Wade, 83, the executive director of the Association of National Park Rangers. Joshua Tree Joshua Tree National Park, in the Southern California desert, has no lodging or dining facilities, and 84 percent of it is managed as designated, potential or proposed wilderness. So even though nearly 3.3 million people visited in 2023, staffing shortages are less likely to affect the overall experience than at most other parks. By most accounts, operations have been running smoothly this year during the typical peak period of March and April. But Kelly Herbinson, executive director of the Mojave Desert Land Trust, a local conservation group, worries that reduced staffing could 'make it extremely difficult to mitigate visitor interaction with the fragile desert ecosystem and its most at-risk species.' The city of Twentynine Palms owns the property just outside the park where the Joshua Tree National Park visitor center sits. Seeking to avoid its potential closure as the N.P.S. considers canceling some leases, elected officials there began working in March to transfer the building's lease from the N.P.S. to the Joshua Tree National Park Association, the park's nonprofit partner, Cindy Villescas, the city clerk, wrote in an email. Olympic Olympic National Park covers nearly one million acres of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington, featuring alpine highlands, beaches, hot springs and temperate rainforests, where you can find the world's largest spruce tree, a Sitka roughly 1,000 years old. Easily accessible without a car via a two-hour ferry ride from Seattle, the park had 3.72 million visitors last year. Among other positions, the firings affected maintenance workers responsible for keeping the road open to Hurricane Ridge, one of the park's most popular areas for hiking and stargazing. When the parking lot fills up at the Hoh Rain Forest, a high-traffic area set to reopen in May, the fee station manages a 'one car out, one car in' policy, often resulting in two-to-three-hour delays during peak season. Rangers play an important role in providing updates, via radio, about the number of available spots, and the cuts mean delays could be even longer. Hoh is the park's biggest attraction, with its 200-foot-tall Western red cedars, lush ancient groves, and resident herd of Roosevelt elk. Arrive very early during peak season to avoid long lines to get into the popular Hall of Mosses, or consider exploring the stunning yet overlooked South Fork Hoh Trail. Rocky Mountain A 90-minute drive northwest of Denver, Rocky Mountain National Park offers access to crystal-clear alpine lakes, wildflower meadows and some 60 peaks above 12,000 feet, like 14,259-foot Longs Peak. At the park, which drew 4.15 million visitors in 2024, the firings and buyouts are affecting entrance booth and visitor center workers and rangers, among others. The park faces numerous problems, even in a 'normal' peak season. Adam Auerbach, 32, a former ranger, cited the Bear Lake Road Corridor, one of the most popular hiking areas. It's 'a consistent management challenge' he said, because of full parking lots and overcrowding. At the Alpine Visitor Center, elevation 11,796 feet, Mr. Auerbach said treating cases of altitude sickness adds to rangers' other duties, like keeping visitors from going off-trail and trampling the fragile alpine tundra. Mayor Gary Hall of nearby Estes Park, Colo., encouraged travelers to make timed-entry reservations, which start on May 23. You can skip the timed-entry pass (and hassles of driving) by taking a 45-minute shuttle ride ($2 reservation fee for up to four tickets) from the Estes Park Visitor Center. Yellowstone In a busy July, up to one million visitors jockey for space at top Yellowstone National Park attractions like Old Faithful and the Grand Prismatic Spring. The park, in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, is home to 290 waterfalls, more than 100 gray wolves, at least 4,000 bison and seven wastewater treatment plants — not to mention an active volcano. Those numbers present some stressful management challenges, said Dan Wenk, who was Yellowstone's superintendent from 2011 to 2018. Reduced staffing could mean trouble for everything from protecting park resources to providing interpretive services to managing long-term research projects, he said. 'I'm trying not to be an alarmist here, but the bottom line is: It's not good,' Mr. Wenk said. Todd Walton, a spokesman for the Xanterra Travel Collection, which runs sites like the Old Faithful Inn, the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Cabins, and numerous campgrounds around the park, said the company's lodging, dining and activities in Yellowstone and at other parks where the company operates 'will all be operating normally, from mule rides to motor coaches.' To beat the crowds, avoid visiting in July and August. And because Yellowstone's West Entrance is by far the busiest, consider using the Northeast Entrance, near Cooke City, Mont., or the East Entrance, near Cody, Wyo. Yosemite Yosemite National Park, in Northern California, was hit hard by the staffing cuts. While some employees are returning, others have already moved out of state. Yosemite has been understaffed for years, despite increasing demand, with 4.12 million visits in 2024. This has led to traffic and overcrowding, with drivers even parking in meadows. In March, a news release prompted widely shared reports that the park was piloting a new timed-reservation system this summer, and Yosemite's website says it 'anticipates sharing details about this year's reservation system in the near future,' but it remains uncertain whether one will be enacted. 'If they don't have the reservation system, it's going to be impossible to still operate effectively,' said Don Neubacher, who served as the park's superintendent from 2010 to 2016. 'Most of the problems are going to be in Yosemite Valley,' where there could be 20,000 people on a summer evening, said Ken Yager, the founder of the Yosemite Climbing Association. 'You might just want to turn around and head toward Tuolumne Meadows for a day trip instead.' One positive development: The Yosemite Search and Rescue team will be fully staffed for 2025. Zion One of the 'Mighty Five' national parks in Utah, Zion draws 4.95 million annual visitors to its desert canyons, evergreen woodlands and sandstone cliffs. 'We have already seen the N.P.S. cuts impacting traffic at the tollbooths and into town,' said Barbara Bruno, the mayor of Springdale, a gateway community to the park. 'The lines are longer than usual even on 'normal' days.' Ms. Bruno added that for years, Springdale residents have been helping direct traffic, pick up trash, cover the information desk and work in the greenhouse. 'Ironically,' she said, 'as the need for volunteers increases, the volunteer coordinator was one of the 'probationary' people who was fired.' With the South Entrance expected to be a pinch point this season, travelers can avoid congestion by planning midweek trips or arriving before sunrise to get a parking spot in the visitor center lot, which often fills up by 7:30 a.m. on weekends. Visitors can also hop on the free Springdale Shuttle or the Zion Canyon Shuttle. Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2025.
Forbes
14-04-2025
- Politics
- Forbes
2,400 National Park Service Staff Could Exit Before Easter Due To New Offer
As a next wave of workforce reduction efforts, the National Park Service (NPS) opened a five-day window on April 4, allowing employees to resign while remaining on paid leave through September. It takes effect on April 18, right before the Easter holidays. National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) estimated this would affect at least 2,400 staff members, over 10% of NPS's workforce. Kristen Brengel, senior vice president for government affairs at NPCA, was interviewed by Kurt Repanshek for National Parks Traveler on April 11. She shared her fear that NPS will lose 'knowledgeable people who know how to protect natural and cultural resources.' The offer came through an internal email sent by Melissa Sims, acting associate director of workforce and inclusion, and was later shared publicly by NPS Ranger News. It was also confirmed on Shenandoah National Park's website. This offer follows a string of measures affecting staffing, such as the February 14 dismissal of roughly 1,000 probationary NPS employees and the Voluntary Early Retirement Program with up to $25,000 in incentives rolled out in March. Full-time permanent employees across the agency can apply for the Deferred Resignation/Retirement Program or pair it with a Voluntary Early Retirement Program. Approved applicants will be placed on fully paid administrative leave by April 18, continuing to receive their salaries until their official departure date later in the year (September 30 to resign and December 31 to retire). Not everyone is eligible, though. Essential personnel operating the National Critical Infrastructure are excluded unless explicitly approved by senior leadership. The email also mentions exceptions for positions deemed essential to safety and operations, including law enforcement, fire management, emergency response, dispatching and cybersecurity roles. For employees nearing retirement or seeking a career shift, this offer could be the opportunity to exit federal service with full pay and flexibility. You can read the full email here. Before this latest development, the NPCA had already published on March 26 what kind of impact the agency has seen since February. Now, losing over 2,400 staff members will likely worsen the situation. The agency noted that the most visible change is in visitor experience. NPCA warns visitors to anticipate longer wait times, fewer services and a scaled-back experience as parks struggle to operate with less staffing. 1) Entrance stations are closing or operating with delays, while many visitor centers now operate on reduced hours, by appointment only or closed entirely. 2) Campgrounds are also closing or operate with limited facilities. For example, Great Smoky Mountains National Park keeps 6 out of its 10 frontcountry campgrounds closed and only Cades Cove, Elkmont, Smokemont and Deep Creek open. 3) Several buildings housing visitor centers, law enforcement offices or museum collections face lease cancellations. 4) Several parks canceled guided tours and limited access to key recreational facilities, from restrooms to boat ramps. For example, Pinnacle National Park canceled all its ranger programs until further notice. 5) NPCA also noted that fewer staff means less work is done behind the scenes. Important scientific and educational programs—like wildlife research and school visits—are being paused or cut. Denali National Park has already canceled two long-running youth camps for 2025, the Denali Discovery Camps and the Denali Backcountry Adventures, citing safety concerns and staffing gaps following the recent termination of key National Park Service employees. Back in February, protests had already begun—most notably when a group of current and former park employees unfurled a massive upside-down American flag at El Capital, a distress signal over the future of the National Park Service. But how can you help now? Send a letter to Congress. NPCA shared a draft letter again to make taking action easier. Volunteer or take a seasonal job to help with trail maintenance, visitor assistance and conservation work. You can find volunteer opportunities at and seasonal job posts at Support through donations or buying an $80 America the Beautiful Pass, directly funding park services. Advocate for the parks by signing petitions and using your voice on social media. This petition on Action Network still needs almost 300 signatures. Keep your existing park reservations and choose tour operators and local businesses directly supporting the parks through commercial partnerships. Visit responsibly and leave no trace. Staying on trails, picking up trash, and keeping facilities clean will help understaffed national parks with maintenance.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Amid staff cuts and budget chaos, more than 700 national park employees take buyout
As the Trump administration continues its campaign to slash the federal workforce, more than 700 year-round National Park Service employees have taken buyouts, according to an internal email sent to supervisors late last week. That brings to at least 1,700 the number of year-round permanent staff members that the service — arguably America's most beloved federal agency — has lost this month. The number equates to roughly 9% of the agency's workforce. In addition, remaining staff members have been banned from traveling for work purposes — unless it's to support national security or immigration enforcement — and some staffers have found that the credit cards they use to purchase gas for service vehicles and basic supplies such as toilet paper for the restrooms have been deactivated, according to interviews with Park Service employees and internal documents shared with The Times. It's not clear how long those measures will be in place. If the cuts aren't restored, 'this just isn't going to be the same Park Service,' said Kristen Brengel, senior vice president of government affairs for the nonprofit National Parks Conservation Assn. 'All of these places are so beautiful and have been so well-protected for so long; continuing to chip away at the staff is illogical.' National Park Service officials did not respond to a request for comment. A memo sent last week to Park Service supervisors from Rita J. Moss, the agency's associate director for workforce and inclusion, said, 'We have over 700 across the service' who are 'participating in the Deferred Resignation Program.' That's the name given by Elon Musk's so-called Department of Government Efficiency for the buyout program, which allows federal employees to resign now but continue receiving their salaries and benefits through September. Such programs generally attract older employees nearing retirement. At the other end of the spectrum, about 1,000 probationary Park Service employees — generally people in their first two years of service who do not yet have employment protections afforded more seasoned workers — were fired Feb. 14 along with tens of thousands of other probationary federal employees in a multiagency purge. The permanent staffers who are fired or taking the buyout include people who collect fees at park entrances, maintenance workers who clean park facilities and rangers who patrol the backcountry and rescue lost and injured hikers. Adding to the operational chaos for Park Service supervisors, the Trump administration in January notified thousands of seasonal workers who staff America's 433 national parks and historical sites during peak seasons that their job offers for the 2025 season had been 'rescinded.' The move set off panic in the ranks of park employees, and threw into limbo the vacation plans of hundreds of millions of people who visit the parks each year. Confronted with public outcry — and grave warnings that celebrated national parks such as Yosemite and the Grand Canyon might be too short-staffed to safely operate — the Trump administration reversed course last week. It backed off the plan to eliminate seasonal employees and even increased the number of temporary workers the parks will be allowed to hire, from roughly 6,300 to as many as 7,700. Read more: Trump administration backtracks on eliminating thousands of national parks employees The shifting goalposts have left supervisors' heads spinning. 'It's so crazy, because they give us no warning, and shut down stuff randomly with, like, 12-hours' notice,' said one Park Service supervisor who asked not to be named for fear of retaliation. 'We would never do that to the public.' The disarray comes on the heels of nearly 15 years without significant funding increases in the National Park Service's operating budget, Brengel said. 'That means many employees do more than one job already, and have been doing so for years,' she said. Despite the pressure on remaining employees to "do more with less,' as managers in moribund enterprises are so fond of saying, the parks themselves have never been more popular. More than 325 million people visited America's national parks in 2023. That's considerably more than twice the number of people (136 million) who attended professional football, baseball, basketball and hockey games combined. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
