National Parks Traveler Podcast

National Parks Traveler Podcast | National Parks in Crisis

Feb 16, 2025

Kristen Brengel, a leader at the National Parks Conservation Association, and Phil Francis, a former National Park Service employee with decades of experience, dive into the current crisis facing national parks. They discuss severe staffing cuts and the implications for visitor services, along with the threat of privatization of these cherished spaces. The duo also sheds light on LGBTQ history erasure in national parks and the need for advocacy. With economic repercussions for local communities at stake, their insights highlight the urgent call to action for preserving these vital resources.

42:38

Creator website

Episode guests

Kristen Brengel

Phil Francis

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

The National Park Service is facing severe staffing reductions that threaten visitor safety and services amidst significant operational challenges.

Despite bipartisan recognition of the economic importance of national parks, little action is being taken to reverse harmful administrative decisions.

Deep dives

Impact of Staffing Changes on National Parks

The National Park Service faces significant staffing challenges due to recent administrative decisions, including a hiring freeze and job cuts. These changes could potentially diminish visitor services, making it one of the most difficult times for the parks since World War II. For example, Acadia National Park, being among the smallest and most popular parks, has suffered from staff reductions that threaten its operational capacity. The economic contribution of national parks, exceeding $2 billion for parks like the Smokies and Blue Ridge Parkway, underscores the significant impact of these staffing cuts on local communities.

Intro

3min

Staffing Crisis in National Parks

17min

Preserving Our National Parks

15min

Challenges and Leadership in National Park Management

3min

Erasure of LGBTQ History in National Parks

3min

Concerns for the Future of National Parks and Civil Rights Sites

2min

The Trump administration’s determination to reduce the size of government regardless of the cost is having a hard impact on the National Park Service. Last month the agency was forced to rescind job offers to seasonal workers, saw a hold placed on millions of dollars distributed through the Biden administration's Inflation Reduction Act to address climate change, been told to prepare a reduction-in-force list of employees, and ordered to "hire no more than one employee for every four" let go. There was a wee bit of good news late last week, with the decision Friday to allow the Park Service to hire 5,000 seasonal workers. But at the same time, the agency was told to fire 1,000 probationary workers. Discussing these developments and their impact on the parks and the Park Service are Kristen Brengel, senior vice president of government affairs for the National Parks Conservation Association, and Phil Francis, chair of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks.

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