The National Park Service reported record-high visitors in 2024, totaling nearly 332 million, despite losing almost 10% of its workforce due to federal cuts. The staffing losses create challenges for maintaining park operations and ensuring visitor safety. The cuts come amid a broader strategy by the Trump administration, which has been criticized for its impact on the beloved agency. Kristen Brengel of the National Parks Conservation Association emphasized that these cuts do not reflect public support, as Americans cherish their national parks and desire continued access.
"It's a slap in the face to the hundreds of millions of people who explored our parks last year and want to keep going back," said Kristen Brengel, senior vice president of government affairs for the nonprofit National Parks Conservation Assn.
As the Trump administration continues to slash the federal workforce, the National Park Service - which has lost nearly 10% of its staff to the sweeping cuts - just reported that 2024 set a record high for visits to its parks.
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