Selling Nature Short: The Impact of Trump's Budget Cuts on the National Park Service

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Edited by Joey Chan, Elizabeth Adams, Owen Andrews, and Sarah Ahmad

In 1872, Yellowstone National Park became America’s first ever national park, initiating a long and stable history of beautiful views, invaluable education, and conservation efforts. The National Park Service (NPS) was established in 1916 to centralize and strengthen the organization and maintenance of national parks. Today, there are 433 national park sites across the US, attracting millions of visitors annually. The NPS has had a relatively peaceful relationship with America’s political landscape since its birth — until now.

In March, the Trump Administration proposed its budget for the 2026 fiscal year, which included frightening cuts to the NPS. The proposed cuts of over $1.2 billion target sectors such as the logistical operations of the NPS, historic preservation efforts, and national park construction and expansion. Trump argues that many national parks, monuments, and forests do not attract a ton of visitors and are therefore better funded at the state level. He states that this change will “ensure the long-term health and sustainment of the national park system.”

However, this is simply false. The Trump administration’s abuse of power has already reached the NPS, and it is not pretty. In February, an initiative to reduce the federal workforce led by President Trump and Elon Musk resulted in over 1,000 national park workers being laid off. These workers are the backbone of our beloved parks. From cleaning restrooms and guiding park tours to manning visitor centers and gift shops, NPS employees are what make national park visits worthwhile. According to Kristen Brengel, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at the National Parks Conservation Association, the firings will likely affect the national parks’ hours, cleanliness, and safety. Additionally, tours and campgrounds are at risk of shutting down.

President Trump is not only attacking the national parks financially—he is also attacking their very history. National parks are not only known for their awe-inspiring landscapes but also for educating their visitors about natural history and landscapes’ interconnectedness with humanity. Many national parks have a complex relationship with enslaved peoples and Indigenous communities. In fact, many NPS locations are founded because of their rich ties to these groups. Donald Trump is attempting to whitewash this history by enacting an executive order to remove “descriptions, depictions, or other content that inappropriately disparage Americans past or living.” This egregious abuse of power is exemplified in the removal of a famous photograph named "The Scourged Back" displayed in Georgia’s Fort Pulaski National Park. The photo depicts an enslaved person’s scarred back from whippings he suffered before his escape. It was circulated during the Civil War and became a prominent abolitionist tool to unveil the horrors of enslavement. This is just one of many national parks attacked by President Trump’s executive orders: Harpers Ferry Historic Park was flagged for educating visitors on abolitionist John Brown; Independence National Park was flagged for its “negative” depiction of the Founding Fathers; numerous parks in South Carolina have been flagged for promoting books on slavery. History is disappearing before our eyes, and Donald Trump’s policies are to blame.

It may be easy to turn a blind eye to these acts. You may think that Donald Trump is just making typical budget cuts to some of America’s favorite vacation destinations and removing a few plaques here and there. But this could not be further from the truth. The NPS embodies American values that must be passed on to future generations. For one, the NPS strives to preserve culture, honoring the diversity of our past, present, and future from Indigenous peoples to our founding fathers." Furthermore, the NPS creates and reinforces an American culture that values nature, emphasizing our collective right to green spaces and clean environments. As Trump’s presidency continues, we could see this right stripped away from us.

Trump’s attacks on the NPS’s educational components are just one stitch in his quilt of tyranny. Donald Trump has a long-standing history of exerting control over educational institutions. From withholding funding from schools that teach critical race theory to attacking DEI initiatives at various universities, it is clear that President Trump is attempting to rewrite history. His removal of historical monuments such as the “Scourged Back” photo at Fort Pulaski is a continuation of this erasure of America’s dark past — a past that we must work tirelessly to correct.

Furthermore, Trump’s treatment of the National Parks is deeply anti-democratic. For one, his actions are not reflective of what the American citizens want. According to a 2022 poll conducted by YouGov, over three-fourths of survey participants said they viewed the NPS as favorable. The participants came from both sides of the political aisle, meaning this is not a partisan problem — this is a Trump problem, and many Americans do not want to see their national parks in shambles.

Donald Trump’s executive orders on NPS cannot be brushed under the rug. His executive overreach and blatant spread of misinformation regarding historical monuments across national parks are flashing red warning signs of democratic backsliding. America should be worried, not just for our national parks, but for our democracy. Luckily, there are ways concerned citizens can help. To immediately help preserve America’s parks, the National Park Foundation has a website for donations. Donations contribute to various initiatives like youth engagement and education, history and culture, and sustainability. In a broader sense, an effective way to preserve democracy is to participate in democratic practices. Virginians can help by voting in the gubernatorial election on November 4, 2025, and all Americans can contribute by voting in the congressional elections in November 2026. Protesting Donald Trump’s foul treatment of national parks and sparking discussions with friends and family members is also a great way to express dissent and educate others on the issue. Not all hope is lost — but Donald Trump will not be the one to restore it. It is up to us to keep our parks green and our country democratic.