WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has dismissed roughly 1,000 recently employed National Park Service staff responsible for park maintenance, visitor education, and various other essential tasks in an extensive initiative to reduce government size.

These layoffs, not officially announced but validated by Democratic senators and House representatives, are part of a turbulent implementation of a sweeping federal job reduction strategy. This plan is spearheaded by billionaire Elon Musk and a newly formed Department of Government Efficiency, an organization aimed at cutting federal expenditures. Adding to the uncertainty, the National Park Service recently announced the reinstatement of around 5,000 seasonal positions initially canceled the previous month due to a spending freeze implemented by President Donald Trump.

Seasonal hires are typically brought in during the warmer months to accommodate over 325 million visitors flocking to the nation’s 428 national parks, historic sites, and other attractions each year.

Advocates for national parks warn that the reduction in permanent staff will leave many parks, including some of the most popular and heavily trafficked, understaffed, potentially leading to difficult decisions regarding operational hours, visitor safety, and conservation efforts.

“Fewer personnel means shorter hours for visitor centers, delayed openings, and closed campgrounds,” stated Kristen Brengel, senior vice president of government affairs at the National Parks Conservation Association, a nonprofit organization advocating for park preservation.

Brengel forecasts that trash accumulation will increase, restrooms will go uncleaned, and maintenance issues will escalate. She also indicated that guided tours may be scaled back or canceled, potentially jeopardizing public safety.

“The Trump administration’s actions are pushing an already overburdened Park Service to its limits,” Brengel stated. “The repercussions will be felt in our parks for years to come.”

A representative from the Department of the Interior, which oversees the National Park Service, declined to comment on the matter. An inquiry sent to the park service did not receive a response.

Democrats on the House and Senate Appropriations Committees confirmed that these layoffs are part of a larger directive issued by the Trump administration.

“There is nothing ‘efficient’ about indiscriminately terminating thousands of necessary workers across both red and blue states,” commented Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., who serves as vice chair of the Appropriations committee, placing blame on both Trump and Musk.

“These two billionaires, who have little understanding of federal operations, are systematically dismantling the American governmental framework — undermining critical services and negatively impacting all citizens,” Murray added.

Among other reductions, 16 of the 17 supervisory roles at Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park have been eliminated, leaving just one individual responsible for hiring, training, and managing numerous seasonal employees expected to work this summer in the popular area known for its grizzly bears and bison.

At Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, layoffs of fee collectors and trail maintenance crew could render trails impassable after heavy rainfall, raising concerns among visitors and local communities.

“They are effectively crippling those who need to train seasonal employees such as park rangers, maintenance personnel, and trail supervisors,” Brengel remarked in an interview. “This situation places our parks in an untenable predicament, ultimately threatening tourism.”

The layoffs may compel smaller parks to shut down visitor centers and other amenities, while larger parks may struggle without cultural resources staff who assist in visitor education, fee collection, and even wastewater management, she explained.

Stacy Ramsey, a ranger at the Buffalo National River in Arkansas, shared on Facebook that she was let go on Friday as a probationary employee in a four-year position funded by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, the climate initiative signed by former President Joe Biden.

“Did those who made this decision understand or care about the primary goal of my position, which is to provide crucial search and rescue education to help ensure the safety of park visitors?” she questioned in a popular Facebook post.

Brian Gibbs, a former environmental educator at Effigy Mounds National Monument in Iowa, expressed his heartbreak at losing what he described as his “dream job” on Friday. He shared on Facebook, “I was a protector of your public lands and waters. I motivated visitors to tackle challenges… taught lessons of gratitude and reciprocity as paths to true abundance, moving beyond power, wealth, or fear.”

Advocates like Brengel highlight that the budget freeze due to an existing law signed by Trump poses further risks to national parks. The Great American Outdoors Act, bipartisan legislation approved in 2020 and endorsed by Trump, allocates $6.5 billion over five years for the maintenance and improvement of national parks.

This program is critical in addressing a significant maintenance backlog in the parks and is frequently celebrated by lawmakers from both political parties. The spending freeze could hinder essential road and bridge enhancements at Yellowstone National Park, which is currently undergoing a $216 million project aimed at improving safety, accessibility, and visitor experience on park roadways. This initiative is primarily funded by the Great American Outdoors Act.

Democratic senators condemned the job cuts in a letter preceding the mass layoffs, stating that a significant number of National Park Service employees taking early retirement offers or being dismissed would result in “chaotic staffing within the parks. This threatens the complete range of visitor services and could even lead to the closure of entire parks,” the senators cautioned.

The letter, led by Sens. Jeff Merkley from Oregon and Angus King from Maine, was signed by 20 other senators.

Reducing staff at national park units “will severely impact local gateway communities that rely on parks for substantial economic activity – from hotels and restaurants to retail stores and outfitters,” the senators emphasized. They noted that park visitors supported an estimated 415,000 jobs and generated $55.6 billion in total economic activity in 2023.

Ramsey reflected on Facebook that she had been involved in at least 20 search-and-rescue operations along the Buffalo National River in Arkansas over the past five years. During her time in the park, she served in various roles including river ranger, fee collector, interpreter, and assisted with both concessions and maintenance.

The Buffalo National River, recognized as the first national river in the United States by Congress in 1972, winds freely for 135 miles through the scenic Ozark Mountains, characterized by serene pools, stunning bluffs, and roaring rapids. It is one of the few undammed rivers left in the contiguous United States.

Despite opportunities for more stable positions, Ramsey continued her role as a river ranger because of her dedication to ensuring the safety of individuals on the river. “I truly cherished my job,” she expressed. “The river feels like home to me.”

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