The Association of National Park Rangers (ANPR) is calling on President Trump to nominate a competent director of the National Park Service. Trump’s previous pick, Scott Socha, a long-time officer for national park concessionaire Delaware North, was withdrawn by the White House in April after widespread backlash against the choice.
The Park Service has been without a Senate-confirmed director since Chuck Sams left the position at the end of the Biden administration. Filling the role has been Jessica Bowron, the agency's comptroller.
“Accomplishing the National Park Service mission is possible only if we care for the dedicated public servants who protect parks and ensure that the agency that employs them is adequately staffed and supported,” said Mike Pflaum, president of ANPR.
ANPR is urging the president to that the new nominee will:
- Meet the requirements of the law by possessing ‘substantial experience and demonstrated competence in land management and natural or cultural resource conservation’ (54 USC Ch 1003)
- Be free from conflicts of interest and demonstrate that the first priority is parks and the people who protect them.
- Enhance the National Park Service and park rangers’ ability to serve visitors by restoring and increasing staffing.
- Publicly commit to ensuring national parks are places where everyone will remain welcomed to visit or work.
- Not seek accommodation with private business owners who might seek long-term or permanent concessions who are primarily concerned with profiting from visitor services in parks.
ANPR hopes the next nominee will demonstrate good faith by making public commitments to demonstrate they will neither support nor facilitate the privatization of park operations, properties, or lands, that they will not allow actions that replace civil servants with for-profit employees, and that they will take positive actions to enhance the abilities and effectiveness of nonpartisan, National Park Service employees.
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The easiest way to explore RV-friendly National Park campgrounds.
Here’s the definitive guide to National Park System campgrounds where RVers can park their rigs.
Our app is packed with RVing- specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 national parks.
You’ll also find stories about RVing in the parks, tips helpful if you’ve just recently become an RVer, and useful planning suggestions.
