Over 331 million visits were recorded in American national parks last year. But the Trump administration doesn't want to pay attention to those numbers, according to a national park service memo amid the massive shootings of rangers and other employees at the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Arch and other popular destinations.
An internal memo issued Wednesday said the agency would “not issue press releases or other active communications” regarding the number. Individual parks said they could create public visitor numbers if they asked for them in person. Data was also posted online.
The Trump administration fired about 1,000 National Park Service employees in February as part of a plan by President Trump and Elon Musk to reduce the size of the federal workforce. More than 700 additional park employees have also filed resignations as part of Musk's “Fork in the Road” offer, and the agency director must report plans for more cuts to the White House by March 13th.
“The National Park Service has just reported the best visits in history as the administration threatens to threaten large visitor centers and public safety facilities,” said Kristen Brengel, vice-president of the Government of the National Park Conservation Association, a nonpartisan group.
She said Americans love national parks and warned that the cuts meant cancelling closed campsites and ranger programs, reducing their ability to carry out search and rescue operations as the peak travel season arrives.
“For the hundreds of millions of people who have explored our park last year and wanted to continue returning, it's a slap in the face,” Brengel said.
The National Park Service declined to comment on the internal memo. In a statement, the agency said it employs seasonal employees and is coordinating with the White House for prioritizing financial responsibility.
Data shows that the park system saw 331,863,358 visits last year. This was the most visited since record keeping began in 1904. Previous records of 330 million visits have been set in 2016, when Park Service celebrated its 100th anniversary.
Most visited were Great Smoky Mountain National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee, with 12.1 million visitors. Visited by 4.9 million people in Zion National Park, Utah. Visited by 4.9 million people in Arizona's Grand Canyon National Park. Visited by 4.7 million people in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, Idaho and Montana. 4.1 million visitors to Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado.
A few days after firing employees and imposing employment freezes, Interior Secretary Doug Burgham announced that the Parks Bureau would rehire thousands of workers despite being in a temporary summer position.
“Apply. Burgum told Fox News: “We want to make sure we have a great experience for the citizens of the National Park System.”
Brengel said many of Bulgham would be hired to be hired in January, and that he rescinded the offer when the Trump administration issued a job freeze.
She said agency leaders are “joking” if they believe they can rehire them and thousands of seasonal workers in time for the busy season, adding that the agency has also reduced new recruiting managers and HR staff.
Jobs, the website USA, which lists open federal jobs, only offered 197 seasonal park services positions as of Thursday.
