Environment & Climate
National Park Service faces staffing and budget cuts on its 110th anniversary
Recent federal funding reductions and workforce losses present operational challenges across 433 sites nationwide.
The short version
- The National Park Service marked its 110th anniversary on August 25, supervising 433 sites across 85 million acres.
- Nonprofit estimates indicate the agency has lost nearly a quarter of its permanent workforce since early 2025 alongside reduced federal budget requests.
- Despite staff shortages affecting maintenance and visitor services, park visits remained high at 323 million in 2025.
Key facts
- The National Park Service turned 110 years old on August 25, 2026, having been established by President Woodrow Wilson in 1916.[Business Insider]
- According to the National Parks Conservation Association, the agency lost nearly 25% of its permanent workforce between January 2025 and mid-2026.[Business Insider]
- Discretionary funding requests for the National Park Service dropped from $3.8 billion in 2024 to $2.1 billion for 2026.[Business Insider]
- The agency manages 433 sites across 85 million acres with approximately 12,600 full-time staff and 5,000 seasonal employees.[Business Insider]
- Park visits totaled 323 million in 2025, down 2.7% from the peak of nearly 332 million recorded in 2024.[Business Insider]
What remains uncertain
- The full extent to which ongoing budget and staffing cuts will impact long-term park maintenance and search-and-rescue capabilities remains uncertain.[Business Insider]