U.S. national parks are grappling with severe staff shortages due to federal government spending cuts. In Yosemite National Park, California, even park scientists have to take turns cleaning camp toilets because of the lack of manpower. Kevin Hittler, the superintendent of Crater Lake National Park in Oregon, recently resigned due to overwhelming work pressure and accepted the government’s buyout plan.
For years, national parks across the U.S. have faced budgetary and staffing issues, which have been exacerbated by the Trump administration and the Office of Government Efficiency established by Musk. The National Park Service (NPS) reveals that some park staff have to take on extra – duties to keep the parks running.
As the peak summer tourist season approaches in Yosemite, a renowned tourist destination, the park has been forced to deploy hydrologists and invasive species experts to the park entrance to receive visitors, and these experts are also responsible for toilet cleaning due to significant staff cuts.
Hittler said that in addition to layoffs, existing employees have to send weekly emails to the federal government explaining their work and justifying their positions, often working 60 – hour weeks, which has led to low morale. His resignation was actually an acceptance of the buyout offer proposed by the Trump administration to federal workers.
In February this year, to meet President Trump’s goal of streamlining the government, the Office of Personnel Management offered a buyout plan to federal employees, providing about eight months of salary compensation to those who resigned voluntarily before February 6. Their pay and benefits would last until September 30, and on – site work was waived. The email also stated that for those remaining, “job or agency certainty cannot be fully guaranteed.”
In early February, the U.S. government cut 1,000 jobs in the National Park Service. Affected park and forest workers say fewer workers will lead to longer queues, poor toilet hygiene, and less safe hiking and camping conditions. In Yosemite, a “reversed” U.S. flag was even displayed on a mountaintop to protest the staff cuts in the National Park Service.
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