Supreme Court Clears Way for Mass Federal Layoffs, Putting Critical NPS Programs on the Chopping Block
For Immediate Release: July 9, 2025
Contact: resistanceranger@proton.me
Resistance Rangers Warn Parks Won’t Survive Cuts Without Irreversible Damage
Yesterday, the Supreme Court lifted a lower court order that temporarily blocked the Trump administration from carrying out sweeping federal workforce reductions. The decision paves the way for agencies to move forward with plans that could eliminate tens of thousands of federal jobs, including within the National Park Service, even before the legality of these layoffs is determined.
“This isn’t about reform or efficiency. They’re hollowing out the NPS,” said a ranger who remained anonymous to protect their job. “What’s left is a façade; parks that look open but lack the resources to protect these lands for future generations. We’re told to tell visitors that everything’s fine. But the truth is, the parks aren’t fine, and the rangers aren’t either. Every ranger still on the job is stretched thin, exhausted, and watching the work we’ve dedicated our lives to quietly falls apart.”
Since January, the NPS has lost 24% of its permanent workforce. Internal communications in April suggested this new round of layoffs may cut up to 1,500 staff—10% of the agency’s remaining employees. Cuts are expected to target national and regional programs that provide critical technical, planning, science, and cultural support across 400+ park sites, while a DOI mandate requires that parks and visitor services remain open.
The Supreme Court’s unsigned order allows layoffs to continue before the lower courts have ruled on the legality of the downsizing plans themselves. Those plans have not been made public; in response to a March court order, DOI released its downsizing plan redacted in its entirety. In her dissent, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson warned the Court was prematurely unleashing “the President’s wrecking ball.”
These anticipated cuts follow years of chronic understaffing at NPS: Over the past 15 years, the NPS workforce has declined by 20% while visitation has increased by over 15%. 2024 visitation was the highest in history with over 331 million visits—a fact that parks were instructed not to publicize. Now, work that safeguards our natural and cultural heritage is on the chopping block while the public is told everything is under control.
###
Resistance Rangers is a group of off-duty NPS rangers. Our goal is to mobilize support for rangers and public lands, and inspire people to take action to protect them.
Organizers do not represent the National Park Service or Department of the Interior. Views and attitudes expressed in this News Release do not reflect views and attitudes of the NPS or DOI.