Day of Action Planned Against Trump’s National Parks Agenda

Advocates for national parks are organizing a nationwide day of action to criticize President Donald Trump’s approach to parks management. They are asking for increased protection and funding for the workforce responsible for maintaining these protected areas.

The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) announced that supporters will gather for events online and across the country on August 25 to advocate for America’s national parks. The association requests public participation through a petition urging Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to safeguard parks and their employees.

According to NPCA, the National Park Service has experienced a loss of a quarter of its permanent workforce over the past year. This includes thousands of rangers, maintenance personnel, and educators. The petition highlights how staffing shortages have diminished educational programs, weakened scientific and conservation work, and might impact emergency responses and visitor safety. The organization calls for Trump and Burgum to invest in park personnel and safeguard the stewards of the parks.

Although the primary focus of the campaign is August 25, NPCA has planned approximately 30 events in 20 states and Washington, D.C. These activities will occur from August 22 through September 1.

The initiative arises amidst broader opposition to Trump’s policies concerning public lands. Critics have challenged the administration over staff reductions, increased fees for foreign visitors, regulatory cutbacks, and directives to remove material deemed divisive from federal historic sites.

The administration argues its policies will enhance recreational access, generate revenue for park infrastructure, and balance conservation with economic growth. Burgum asserts Trump’s policies protect landscapes while eliminating cumbersome regulations. Interior officials cite ongoing investments under the Great American Outdoors Act, signed by Trump, as proof of his conservation efforts.

A Department of Interior spokesperson noted that over 99 percent of donations during the 2024 election cycle from NPCA employees benefited Democratic political campaigns. The spokesperson criticized the NPCA for claiming nonpartisanship while backing progressive candidates and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s campaign.

The Day of Action campaign mainly focuses on the reduced number of National Park Service employees and perceived insufficient federal backing for the remaining workforce. The NPCA highlights that staffing deficits have curtailed educational programs, expelled specialists for research and conservation, and raised concerns about adequate emergency responses.

The decline accompanied mass terminations, hiring limitations, and proposals for federal employees to resign or retire early. Approximately 1,000 probationary Park Service employees were dismissed in February 2025, though courts authorized their reinstatement later. Other employees departed through resignation and retirement programs, while park advocates warned of the enduring impact due to the loss of knowledgeable scientists, historians, emergency responders, and maintenance staff.

Additionally, the administration introduced pricing disparities for residents and international visitors. U.S. residents maintain an $80 annual pass fee, whereas nonresidents pay $250, with extra charges for visitors at several popular parks. Burgum contends this policy ensures fair contribution from international visitors for park maintenance and improvement.

Trump has also mandated the Interior Department to assess monuments, signs, and interpretive material at federal sites to highlight American success and remove content viewed as disparaging or divisive.

The administration emphasizes enhanced timber harvesting, expanded energy production, and expedited permitting processes, seeking to remove what it describes as excessive environmental regulations. Burgum has emphasized the significance of the Great American Outdoors Act, declaring it a major public lands investment to support infrastructure improvements.