Members warn steep park staffing cuts and hiring disruptions are reducing visitor services
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Summary
Multiple lawmakers cited vacant superintendents, cuts to seasonal employees and delayed hires at National Park Service units as resulting in curtailed hours, fewer programs and pressure on gateway communities; Secretary Burgum said he would work with local leaders and urged use of exemptions for critical summer hires.
Members of the House Natural Resources Committee raised concerns that staffing changes and proposed cuts within the National Park Service are affecting visitor services, maintenance and gateway economies.
Rep. Joe Neguse (D-Colo.) and others recounted vacancies across superintendent positions and questioned a proposed reduction in National Park Service funding that the secretary described as cuts to overhead and non-park jobs. "When a superintendent position is vacant...most American people would describe that as vacant," Neguse said, pressing Burgum to explain whether cuts represented a rollback of park services. Burgum said the department was filling many vacancies by having deputies step into roles and that proposed reductions targeted overhead outside parks rather than frontline employees; he also said the department was prioritizing the visitor experience.
Multiple members described specific facilities or parks that had reduced hours or canceled programs, including references in the hearing to Yosemite reservation delays, Crater Lake staffing shortfalls and Saguaro visitor-center hours. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-N.M.) and Rep. Teresa Reavis (D-CA) asked for briefings and for clearer guidance so parks could hire lifeguards and seasonal staff for summer operations; Burgum said that exemptions exist for wildland firefighters, law-enforcement positions and summer seasonal hires and that parks with critical needs should use those authorities.
Why it matters: National parks host hundreds of millions of visits and support regional economies. Lawmakers warned that staffing disruptions will reduce services, harm gateway communities and aggravate deferred maintenance and visitor-safety issues.
What comes next: Burgum pledged to meet with Gateway Community leaders and to provide briefings on specific parks. Members asked for data on vacancies and on any reductions in hours or services so the committee can follow up.
