Breakwater
2025
We owe them a debt of gratitude, the 138,000 people who volunteer to help maintain our stunning National Parks.
Their work is essential as federal funding for our National Parks shrinks. Deep funding cuts and staff firings ordered by the Trump Administration are nothing new. In 2024, under the Biden Administration, the U.S.Forest Service was hit by budget shortfalls and unveiled job cuts.
Now, the Trump Administration proposes cutting more than $1 billion from the National Park Service budget. That’s about a third of an already insufficient budget. Hopefully this won’t happen. Any politician who takes a look at the growing list of deferred maintenance projects realizes we’ve already dug ourselves a hole.
With more people visiting our National Parks than ever, almost a million visitors a day, how sad that we are not investing in safeguarding America’s treasures. The administration’s proposed entrance fee surcharges on foreign visitors to some of our National Parks may ease some of the financial sting, but by how much, it’s tough to tell.
This should not be a political issue. Our National Parks are for all of us to enjoy. There are no better investments we can make in America’s future.
Without these 138,000 volunteers, a wretched situation would be even worse. We pass along our deepest thanks to them all.
