As part of the Trump administration’s recent efforts to cut federal spending, the National Park Service has fired around 1,000 employees.
A release from the Association for National Park Rangers has confirmed the layoffs of at least 17 employees in Utah, including 12 from Zion National Park.
According to the National Park Service, Zion has reduced its number of full-time employees from 184 in 2010 to 164 in 2024. This 10% reduction in staff happened during the same period where park visitors doubled from 2.6 million to 5 million.
Visitation at national parks has been growing steadily since the pandemic. In 2024, over 11 million people visited Utah’s “Mighty 5” parks, which includes Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Zion National Parks.
The National Parks Service was already struggling from understaffing and insufficient federal funding and this latest cut could have a potentially devastating impact, Bill Wade, executive director of the Association of National Park Rangers, said.
"Sadly, there will be thousands fewer rangers to help and support the record-setting number of people expected at most of America's 433 national park areas during this year's busy-use season," Wade said.
The cuts could mean reduced park hours and days, elimination of ranger-led educational programs, reduced maintenance to park facilities, or even complete closures in some areas in order to protect visitors and preserve the park resources, he added.
"These actions will hurt visitors and the parks they travelled to see across the United States,” Rick Mossman, Association of National Park Rangers president, said.
Brooke Rollins, the newly appointed U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, has overseen the effort to improve government spending in the National Parks Service.
"Secretary Rollins fully supports the president’s directive to improve government, eliminate inefficiencies, and strengthen USDA’s many services to the American people," Rollins' communications coordinator Larry Moore said.
Her top priority is to ensure that the department is working to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars, Moore added.
Jullian Pexton, an avid hiker and park volunteer travels all over the country to experience as many national parks as possible. She has set a goal to visit every single one.
“I believe the national parks are an important heritage location for us, and that they should be preserved and have the proper funds to maintain them and improve them as tourism continues to grow,” Pexton said.
Over 22 million people flood to Utah each year to visit Utah's state and national parks.
Tyler Johansson, a Florida native, relocated to Utah three years ago after falling in love with Utah’s beautiful natural landscape and rich outdoor lifestyle.
“The parks in Utah are incredible and I feel so lucky to have witnessed their beauty. I only hope others get to do the same because that memory makes this world a better place,” he said.