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3w ago

Trump Administration Advances $1.2 Billion National Park Service Budget Cuts, 1,500 Layoffs

The Department of the Interior plans to finalize sweeping reductions to grants, staffing, and programs, raising concerns over park operations and local economies.

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Overview

  • The Trump administration's proposed 2026 budget includes a $1.2 billion reduction to the National Park Service, the largest budget cut in the agency's history.
  • The Department of the Interior is preparing to lay off 1,500 additional NPS staff, following earlier rounds of layoffs and buyouts affecting 1,700 employees.
  • Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency is targeting $26 million in grant eliminations, including programs focused on climate research and diversity initiatives.
  • The administration has suspended air quality monitoring in national parks and closed the NPS Academy, which aimed to diversify the park service workforce.
  • Critics warn these cuts could reduce park services by 75%, jeopardizing conservation efforts, visitor safety, and the $55 billion economic impact of national parks.