The Trump administration has redirected at least 30.5% of national park fee revenue toward projects in Washington, D.C., including $8 million for President Donald Trump’s revamped Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. This diversion of funds comes more than one year after the administration laid off around 1,000 National Park Service employees. Parks now cope with fewer workers even as tourists arrive in near record numbers this summer, partly due to the removal of timed-entry reservation systems at some locations. Federal law stipulates that only 20% of fees collected at national parks should go toward free parks, which include D.C. landmarks. Sam, a national park ranger, called the situation “completely upsetting” and “infuriating.”
Public Resources Under Attack
John Garder, a senior director at the National Parks Conservation Association, expressed “deep concern” over the redirection of funds. He highlighted the lack of transparency regarding the specific projects receiving these funds and the resulting cancellation of projects across the country. Garder also voiced apprehension about the potential use of these funds for “large construction projects or vanity projects” that have not undergone congressional review or adhered to laws like the National Historical Preservation Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. The Interior Department stated its focus on “beautifying the district for the 250th celebrations in our nation’s capital” and addressing deferred maintenance nationwide. However, the department did not respond to inquiries about staff strain, increased crowds, or impacts on local businesses.
National parks already faced a maintenance backlog exceeding $24 billion. Roads in several parks have been closed for as long as five years without progress. Money is so scarce that even basic supplies like toilet paper are difficult to procure. Jane, another NPS employee, reported that buying a single roll for her park’s restroom requires multiple layers of approval due to a spending freeze. Her park nearly ran out earlier this year, which would have forced a two-hour drive for visitors to the nearest open restroom. The administration also expanded fishing access, lifted hunting restrictions, and rolled back limits on off-road vehicles. At Curecanti National Recreation Area in Colorado, a ban on firing weapons from, toward, or across hiking trails was removed. Hunters can now clean game in public restrooms at Texas’s Lake Meredith National Recreation Area, and alligators can be hunted in Louisiana’s Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve.
Workers Bear the Cost
Staff shortages have forced some rangers to take on custodial work, according to Jane. Mikah Meyer, a National Parks expert, confirmed hearing from ranger friends that researchers are now performing janitorial duties. “They have gone from working in their specialization that they are skilled for and trained for to literally cleaning your sh*t,” Meyer stated, noting this trend across the park system. Alex, a third NPS employee, described employee housing facilities in his Pacific Northwest park as needing significant refurbishment, forcing many permanent staff to commute over an hour. This leads to higher burnout and substantial turnover, making it “hard to keep people.”
Sam reported that staffing levels at their park are around 60%, compelling human resources and maintenance staff to work at fee booths. Employees now live in fear of job loss and are encouraged to accept early retirement or buyout opportunities. Sam noted that this “shuffling around of park rangers and consolidating them” has “really stripped a lot of rangers of their identity.” Overwhelmed NPS staff have become “snappy” with visitors more often, struggling to maintain a calm demeanor under pressure. Tim Whitehouse, executive director at Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, confirmed the past year has been “devastating” for NPS employees, with essential organizational functions being degraded.
Capital's New Frontier
Staff shortages have also led to increased human-wildlife conflict. Alex observed more people feeding animals and leaving food, causing bears to become “problematic” and potentially requiring them to be put down. Elisabeth Barton, co-founder of Echo Adventure Cooperative, a tour-guide service near Yosemite, said fewer interpretive rangers mean less enforcement, leading to more people feeding wildlife and leaving trash. “The squirrels are getting fat,” she remarked. The removal of timed-entry systems has made business unpredictable for tour operators. Yosemite saw a 12% rise in visitation this year, with weekends becoming “untenable” and the valley “functionally inaccessible” due to crowding, while weekdays remain empty. Barton stated this reduces the ability to offer long-term employment, as the sudden policy changes gave no time for preparation.
This year, a new policy took effect, requiring non-U.S. residents to pay $250 for an annual national park pass, more than triple the $80 paid by U.S. residents. Foreign tourists without the pass must pay an additional $100-per-person fee to enter 11 of the most-visited parks. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum stated on Katie Miller’s podcast, “We’re generating record revenue this year from international and foreign visitors. That is helping us have more money to pay for the deferred maintenance across the country.” McKay Edwards, owner of Moab Springs Ranch outside Arches National Park, reported his hotel’s international guests have been cut in half since 2024. He anticipates being in “survival mode” until the end of this administration, stating, “This administration has not been good for tourism.”