National Parks Face Critical Staff Shortages During Peak Season
Spring break is here and US national parks are getting crowded. Families are arriving with tents, hiking poles and sunscreen. But this year, they might need to pack extra patience too.
Recent problems have made it hard for parks to have enough workers. In January, the Trump administration stopped all hiring. In February, they fired 1,000 park workers. A judge later said these firings were illegal.
Already busy
“National parks in the Southwest are already busy”, says Cassidy Jones, senior visitation program manager for the National Parks Conservation Association. “Seasonal hiring was extremely delayed and, therefore, many seasonal employees aren’t even on the job yet. That means you have reduced staff all over these parks that are already busy,” writes CNN.
Dan Wenk, who worked for the National Park Service for decades before retiring in 2018, worries about what happened to experienced workers.
High-quality employees
“A lot of offers had already been extended and then had to be revoked. Many of those people were very high-quality employees who had been returning year after year and were very good at their jobs”, he said. “The question is, are they going to be available now? Did they take other opportunities when they thought they weren’t going to have a job?”
The biggest concern is safety. Wenk explained: “Any reduction in [ranger staff] is going to mean that there are fewer rangers out there to make sure people are staying safe, whether in relation to resources or animals. Pick your peril.”
Rick Mossman, president of the board of the Association of National Park Rangers, has an even stronger warning: “If they try to keep the parks fully opened with little staff this summer, visitors will die due to no or slow response to medical emergencies and incidents.”
Visitors will likely notice longer lines at entrance gates, reduced visitor center hours, and less time with rangers. Wenk recommends trying less popular parks this year and being extra prepared for your visit.
“If this is your one chance to go to that iconic park you’ve wanted to all your life, be sure you’re as well informed before you get to that gate as you can be.”
