America's National Parks May Face Summer Worker Shortage

Seasonal workers at U.S. national parks and historical sites have had their 2025 work offers rescinded after news of U.S. President Donald Trump’s federal hiring freeze, throwing them into limbo. A potential worker shortfall could hinder the ability of the most popular parks to manage peak season crowds.

The hiring freeze includes seasonal workers and newly offered permanent positions at Yosemite, Death Valley, and Joshua Tree, and about 430 other national parks and historical sites. 

The National Park Service rescinded at least 1,000 job offers last week for seasonal positions, according to the National Parks Conservation Association, which received confirmation from multiple managers across the country.

"Between the hiring freeze and the other directives from the administration, we’re deeply worried about the potential for the park service to be significantly understaffed as the busy season approaches. That threatens significantly reduced services to visitors who expect a functional and inspiring national park experience," John Garder, NPCA's Senior Director of Budget and Appropriations, told Skift.

The National Park Service did not respond to repeated requests for a comment and for the exact figure of rescinded offers.

Park rangers, visitor center employees, and cleaners are among the categories of employees who will be impacted, NPCA told Skift. Yosemite National Park had 741 employees working the summer season in 2021, according to the National Park Service website. 

Possible Departures, Too

Two other factors that might reduce Parks' workforce this summer are a federal hiring freeze announced on January 20 and the Trump administration's recent offer of "buyouts" to federal workers to resign and be paid through the end of September.

Those who resign would not be expected to work, and could take up other jobs or vacation during the period, according O.P.M’s website.

It’s unclear how many workers may take this option. If many did, it would impact on the number of people working at parks and elsewhere in the summer.

Already Strained?

Visitation to 433 national parks has been increasing, with 325.5 million visits reported in 2023, an increase of 13 million, or 4%, over 2022, said the National Park Service.

However, the service was already under strain, with insufficient staffing issues since 2016. Shortfalls in staffing in the past led to fewer services and increased vandalism, according to local media reports. 

“Our parks already have thousands fewer staff than they did a decade ago, and these actions risk further straining an already overwhelmed Park Service and impacting millions of visitors and local communities," said Theresa Pierno, President and CEO for the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA).

Ranger-led programs, resource protection, maintenance, trash pickup and visitor needs “could be compromised,” she said, and in the long term, buyouts could lead to a loss of expertise and experience. 

Trump's Support of the Parks

Trump has supported the national parks in the past, having signed the Great American Outdoors Act into law in 2020, which enacted funding for national parks, wildlife refuges and public recreation facilities. 

It was a landmark conservation legislation, using revenues from energy development to provide up to $1.9 billion a year in the National Parks and Land Legacy Restoration Fund.

However, the cumulative effect of actions taken since Trump took up office could be “devastating and long-lasting” for the parks and their staff, Pierno said.