Natasha Blakely, natasha.blakely@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, DC – The Trump administration’s proposed budget, released this month, includes transferring hundreds of National Park Service sites to state management. This comes as the administration seeks to cut the NPS budget by $900 million.
The Reconciliation Bill in Congress also threatens to take away $500 million that had already been allocated to NPS to recruit and hire park rangers.
As NPS staff and sites face reduction, local and state-level recreation sites are also closing in advance of summer as a result of staff shortages and funding cuts.
In response, Gerry Seavo James, Sierra Club Outdoors for All deputy director, said:
“It’s clear that this move isn’t intended for the public, who will have a harder time accessing these places with less staff, funding, and programs, but instead is a step closer to privatization of our public lands. Sites of all sizes hold meaning and deserve to be held in trust for all Americans to enjoy. Taking away federal support from these national treasures right as the parks’ busiest season starts is not in anyone’s best interest.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.