President Trump on Monday put a freeze on federal government hiring, an action that could have wide-ranging impacts for the National Park Service as it moves to hire thousands of seasonal rangers and other employees for the upcoming summer.
Beyond seasonal positions, there are many vacancies involving permanent positions that parks are trying to fill. Then, too, there are personnel who have been offered permanent jobs but haven't begun working and are wondering how the hiring freeze will impact them.
At the National Parks Conservation Association, President and CEO Theresa Pierno said the hiring freeze would adversely affect the National Park System.
“Protecting our national parks requires the dedicated efforts of tens of thousands of rangers and other Park Service employees every day, but much of their staffs are edging closer to retirement. Parks already have 10 percent fewer rangers and other staff compared to a few years ago," said Theresa Pierno in a prepared statement. "They cannot continue to be hampered by low staffing, and that’s exactly what will happen with this hiring freeze.
"Park rangers are already forced to do more with less because they don’t have enough staff to handle record-breaking crowds. If Congress and the administration don’t work together to better staff our parks, this will only make it harder for those remaining park staff to care for and manage America’s favorite places.”
Traveler has reached out to Park Service officials for their interpretation of the scope of the hiring freeze and will update the story when possible.
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Comments
Do you have any idea how important tourism including foreign tourism is to the economy of the National Parks?
Our Nations Parks are for the enjoyment of all people. The mountains, streams, historical monuments and other protected places within the NPS system know no political boundaries; they demand respect from all people.
Parks are for ALL people, not just U.S. citizens
But we need all that extra money now to build THE WALL and to build something like two hundred more ships for the Navy and to keep all those non-Christians out of the country.
The fear mongers are winning.
Arrrrgh!
Guess what Lee, I agree. The wall is a bad idea. Way to expensive and not necessary.
No jobs, no school, no medical care, no driver licenses, no handouts - we won't need a wall. The won't come in the first place and the ones (illegal aliens) that are here will go home.
As to non-Christians - no one of any signficance is arguing to keep all non-Christians out of the country.
I fully agree!
Bill, that remark is embarrasing. For you.