The sweeping landscapes of Rocky Mountain National Park. The silent canyons of Black Canyon of the Gunnison. The solemn ground of Amache National Historic Site. These are more than just places—they are threads in the fabric of American identity. But under President Trump’s recently released 2026 budget proposal, that fabric faces a historic unraveling.
If enacted, the proposal would slash more than $1 billion from the National Park Service (NPS), a staggering 33% cut that includes a $900 million reduction in park operations alone. This would mark the largest rollback in the Park Service’s 109-year history. The consequences are dire: more than 5,500 jobs lost, operations at up to 350 national park units eliminated, and essential climate and conservation efforts gutted.
This isn’t just a budget—it’s a blueprint for dismantling the very agency charged with preserving America’s most treasured natural and cultural sites.
Free: Complete Colorado 14ers Planner
Every peak. Every trailhead. Every detail: in one spreadsheet.
- All 58 peaks ranked beginner to expert
- Safety notes and seasonal windows for each
- Route difficulty, mileage, and prep tips
A Crisis in the Making
The numbers paint a grim picture. From a workforce of 13,648 in 2024, the Park Service would be reduced to just 8,130 staff members—nearly a 40% drop in personnel. That means fewer rangers to patrol backcountry trails, fewer educators to share the stories of these lands, and fewer scientists to monitor fragile ecosystems.
In Colorado, the impact is already being felt. At Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, visitors were recently warned to “self-rescue” in case of emergencies—no ranger staff were available at the North Rim. It’s a harrowing preview of what could become the new norm across the country.
“This presidential budget would gut the national park system,” said Tracy Coppola of the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA). “It would be the largest cut in National Park Service history.”
Cuts Beyond the Campsites
These cuts don’t just impact visitor services—they threaten the foundational infrastructure of the Park Service itself. In Fort Collins, the NPS’s Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Directorate oversees critical programs like air quality monitoring and dark sky preservation. Many of those scientists and planners have already been laid off or driven out by early retirements and hostile conditions, weakening the agency’s ability to steward park resources.
Even newly established or culturally vital sites like Colorado’s Amache National Historic Site, which commemorates the internment of Japanese Americans during WWII, face potential closure or transfer to state control.
“These places aren’t about profit or visitor counts,” said Coppola. “They exist to tell the story of our country.”
A Mirage of Stability
Despite growing public interest—2024 saw record park visitation—the administration continues to project an image of stability. But insiders say it’s a facade. Staff are stretched thin, leases for park offices have been threatened, and Inflation Reduction Act funds supporting climate resilience have been cut by more than 50%.
“The parks may look open, but without the staff and support they need, it’s a mirage."
Free: Complete Colorado 14ers Planner
Every peak. Every trailhead. Every detail: in one spreadsheet.
- All 58 peaks ranked beginner to expert
- Safety notes and seasonal windows for each
- Route difficulty, mileage, and prep tips
A Call to Action
Congress still has the power to reject this budget and restore critical funding to our parks. Lawmakers from both parties have voiced concern, including Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper, who warned that the cuts would “run our national parks and forests into disrepair.”
The NPCA has called the plan “catastrophic” and “an all-out assault on America’s national parks.” Their message is clear: This is not just about budgets—it’s about values.
At The Next Summit, we believe in preparing people to explore our public lands safely and responsibly. But that mission becomes impossible if those lands are shuttered, underfunded, or stripped of the very people who protect them.
Time to Take a Stand
Our parks are more than recreation areas—they are classrooms, sanctuaries, and symbols of shared history and hope. The Trump administration’s proposed budget betrays the bipartisan legacy of conservation that created and preserved these places for generations.
Silence is complicity. Let your representatives know that our parks are not for sale. Our legacy deserves better.
What You Can Do:
- Contact your members of Congress. Ask them to reject the Trump administration’s 2026 budget cuts to the National Park Service.
- Support advocacy groups. That includes the National Parks Conservation Association and Outdoor Alliance.
- Stay informed. Follow park-related policy news and share accurate information with your networks.
- Visit responsibly. Continue to enjoy national parks while respecting Leave No Trace principles and acknowledging the challenges staff face.
Together, we can stand up for the wild places that make America whole.
Sources
- https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2025/06/trump-budget-request-would-cut-national-park-service-workforce-more-5500
- https://www.npca.org/articles/8495-president-trump-s-proposed-budget-could-decimate-at-least-350-national-park
- https://www.cpr.org/2025/06/12/trump-budget-impact-national-parks-concerns/
