As park workers return, most opposed to budget cuts, layoffs: poll

As workers return to Yosemite National Park after the federal government shutdown there is a foreboding sense of more trouble to come.

Park employees still worry about a so-called Reduction in Force (RIF) that could reduce even more of the permanent staff, as part of a consolidation in the National Park Service and the Department of Interior.

The Trump Administration has proposed a $1 billion budget reduction for the National Park Service (NPS) in 2026. It would be the largest cut to the agency’s budget in its 109-year history.

The federal budget compromise, known as a continuing resolution, prohibits RIF activities between Oct. 1 and Jan. 1, 2026, by stating that “any reduction in force proposed, noticed, initiated, executed, implemented, or otherwise taken by an Executive Agency between October 1, 2025, and the date of enactment, shall have no force or effect.”

The language is broad, covering both an initial notice of layoff and the execution of a RIF.

“Employees whose removal becomes effective between Oct. 1 and Jan. 30 have a strong argument that they are entitled to reinstatement, even if the RIF notice was sent prior to Oct. 1,” said Nick Bednar, a law professor at the University of Minnesota in an interview with FedScoop.

A new survey indicates Americans may also be tiring of cuts to national parks that historically have enjoyed bipartisan support.

The survey from the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) shows that 69 percent opposed the $1 billion in budget cuts to NPS.

A slightly smaller margin, 62 percent, oppose the White House plan to cut more NPS workers.

On a question of policy and the Trump Administration’s rollback of DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) measures, 78 percent of those surveyed believe the NPS should not remove photos, signs or other material that tell “factual aspects of American history.”

The survey was conducted by the market research firm YouGov, which polled 3,000 adults 18 or older, between Oct. 27 and Nov. 2.

The NPS has lost about 13 percent of its workforce in the last couple of years, according to NPCA.

All official communication for Yosemite National Park is still being directed to the U.S. Department of Interior.

“Parks across the country are welcoming visitors back in full,” said a statement from an Interior spokesperson.

“NPS employees and partners are working quickly to restore normal services and ensure visitors can continue to enjoy these treasured places. The administration is proud of the dedication, accountability and efficiency shown by the NPS workforce, demonstrating once again that with clear direction and smart planning, America’s parks remain open, protected and ready for all to enjoy,” said the statement.