June 3, 2025

Dear Senators:

We, the members of the National Parks Second Century Action Coalition and other organizations, urge you to protect funding intended for National Park Service (NPS) staffing. The House-passed H.R. 1 includes language in Section 80309 that would strip $267 million from NPS. We ask that you work to remove this harmful language from the bill.

Since January, NPS has 16.5% less staff due to the administration’s pressured buyouts, deferred resignations and early retirements as well as vacancies and probationary firings. At least 100 superintendent positions are vacant, as well as many interpreters, scientists, fee collectors, seasonal positions and others. This year’s staff reductions are on top of the 20% reduction in staffing the agency has experienced since 2010. H.R. 1 compounds the problem even further by taking away $267 million dedicated to fill personnel gaps in parks across the country.

The $267 million targeted for recission is part of the $500 million included in the Inflation Reduction Act to help NPS fill critical roles in the workforce that are essential to preparing parks and protecting their resources. This funding allows every park to fund critical positions, including scientists, archivists, curators, historians and a myriad of other staff, to protect these places.

America’s national parks are seeing record visitation with over 331 million visits in 2024. On Memorial Day weekend, visitors flooded into parks with hour long lines at Shenandoah National Park, and packed trails at Zion. The Secretary ordered through S.O. 3426 that park staff focus on the visitor experience, not protect the resources. Therefore, the $267 million is more important than ever to ensure the staff can provide lasting experiences for visitors and protect the resources.   

We urge you to not include Section 80309 from H.R. 1 in any reconciliation bill under consideration by the Senate. If language stripping the National Park Service of staff funding is included, we urge you to oppose the bill.

Sincerely,

National Parks Conservation Association

The National Parks Second Century Action Coalition is made up of organizations supporting conservation, recreation, outdoor industry, travel and tourism and historic preservation that are dedicated to promoting the protection, restoration, and enjoyment of the National Park System for the long-term benefit it offers our nation.