Amna Nawaz:
As the National Park Service celebrates its 110th anniversary this week, people continue to flock to America’s national parks, more than 320 million last year alone. But that broad appeal is facing new political pressures, from orders to revise exhibits at parks to controversy surrounding the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and the new White House ballroom.
Joining us now to discuss the state of national parks is Tiernan Sittenfeld. She’s the president and CEO of the National Parks Conservation Association.
Tiernan, welcome to the show. Thanks for being with us.
Tiernan Sittenfeld, President and CEO, National Parks Conservation Association: Thanks for having me, Amna.
Amna Nawaz:
So, big picture, when you look at America’s national parks, they are traditionally one of the most popular parts of the government. But, lately, as we mentioned, the Park Service has been pulled into politics.
Have you ever seen this kind of thing before? Is this a new challenge for the Park Service?
Tiernan Sittenfeld:
Well, first, I should also join you in wishing the National Park Service a happy 110th birthday.
And our national parks really are the core of what is best about this country. They really do bring us together across differences. They get us off our phones and outside. And they have absolutely never been partisan. And it’s extremely unfortunate and disturbing to see this administration dragging our parks into partisan politics.
They truly are so special. We need to protect and defend and celebrate them. And we are all in to stop the efforts to politicize our parks.
Amna Nawaz:
Tiernan, let me ask you about the funding piece of this, because I know the Park Service has a repair backlog that’s now grown to over $24 billion. Meanwhile, some of your funding, including visitor fees at the parks, is now being diverted to pay for projects that are priorities of the president’s.
We asked the Department of Interior about this. They oversee the Park Service. In part, they said, in response: “The National Park Service has not only been focused on beautifying the District for the 250th celebrations. They have also been working on many deferred maintenance projects throughout the country.”
But, Tiernan, what have you seen? Has that diversion of funds impacted national parks?
Tiernan Sittenfeld:
Well, we know that Park Service staff are working very hard every day, and there is a massive funding shortage.
And the fact that this administration is reportedly diverting $90 million in park fees from around the country to the president’s vanity projects right here in Washington, D.C., is incredibly concerning and something that we very much oppose.
Amna Nawaz:
Meanwhile, just today, we saw the National Park Service release a new report as they’re assessing another proposal by the president for an arch in his name here in Washington, D.C. Headlines seem to suggest that they support that project right now, but what should we make of that?
Tiernan Sittenfeld:
We are quite concerned about that triumphal arch, which is going to be 250 feet. That is massive, and it would be really standing between Washington, D.C., and be that sort of the ceremonial gateway to Arlington National Cemetery.
I know this is a major concern for veterans across the country, including my colleague at the National Parks Conservation Association who leads our Veterans Council and has been active in testifying on this issue. And more broadly, what’s very concerning is that the Trump administration is showing so little regard for public input, for the role of Congress, for the rule of law.
Amna Nawaz:
There’s also been some questions and reporting around the staffing, and I want to ask you about morale at the National Park Service, because since President Trump took office, the Park Service has lost about 25 percent of staff through those DOGE efforts. Those are roles that have not been replaced. It’s more than 4,000 reported staff.
Seasonal hires, we know, were also below levels. So what kind of effect is that having on the National Park Service?
Tiernan Sittenfeld:
Yes, the 25 percent cut to National Park Service staff in the last year-and-a-half is having devastating impacts. Those are not just numbers on a spreadsheet. These are dedicated public servants who go to work every day to keep our parks running safely for visitors, for wildlife, for the future.
And the visitor experience has already been diminished, whether it’s the long lines that we’re seeing to get into some of the most visited parks, whether it’s fewer Ranger programs, or whether it’s shorter visitor service hours. So that is really concerning on its own.
But then some of the behind-the-scenes longer term threats that could take place if these staffing shortages continue could actually be even worse, whether that means less habitat restoration and less trail maintenance. And, again, these are real people. These are educational Rangers. These are historians. These are scientists. These are wildlife experts.
These are Rangers who educate us. And we need to stand with them. They need our support, and we need to fully, fully staff the National Park Service.
Amna Nawaz:
While I have you, I want to ask you about a couple of other recent reports, one from NOTUS today that the Trump administration is pushing to give a parcel of land in Yosemite National Park to a private developer.
That follows other reports about the administration proposing repealing protections like the roadless rule, which bans road construction and logging in about 45 million acres of protected forests. What would be the impact of those steps if they’re taken?
Tiernan Sittenfeld:
These are really outrageous and appalling proposals by the administration. Unfortunately, it’s not really a surprise.
From day one, this administration has jeopardized the parks that we all love so much for recreation, for wildlife, for clean air, clean water, for future generations. They have really minimized all of those incredibly important values for the benefit of the oil and gas industry, for increasing mining, for more roads.
And so things like rolling back the roadless rule that has been on the books protecting pristine national forests across the country for more than 25 years is quite, quite concerning, and something we strongly oppose. Our — my colleagues have noted that 30 percent of these lands are within 30 miles of a national park.
So that could actually jeopardize the habitat of grizzlies in Glacier and Yellowstone. It could threaten the forest surrounding the Appalachian Trail that so many people love to hike on. So we are incredibly concerned about that.
And then today’s breaking news of the administration rushing a backroom deal to a private developer for some kind of luxury development that would jeopardize one of our oldest and most cherished parks in Yosemite, that would harm wildlife, that could exacerbate wildlife risk is really unacceptable and needs to stop right now.
Amna Nawaz:
All right, that is Tiernan Sittenfeld, president and CEO of the National Parks Conservation Association.
Tiernan, thank you for joining us. Appreciate your time.
Tiernan Sittenfeld:
Thanks so much, Amna.
