On March 1, Gardiner, Montana, hosted a protest against federal layoffs impacting the National Park Service, with participants highlighting the economic importance of public lands. Approximately 5% of NPS workers faced layoffs amidst broader federal staffing cuts, while many more chose to resign voluntarily. The protest emphasized the deep relationship between Gardiner and Yellowstone, with slogans echoing community fears about losing vital public land funding, as these layoffs threaten local businesses dependent on the park.
The staffing crisis facing national parks is felt not only within the federal workforce itself but also in gateway towns like Gardiner, where the economy depends heavily on Yellowstone.
Protesters shouted chants like 'Public lands in public hands!' and 'Hey, ho, Trump and Musk have got to go.' Organizers talked about what public lands mean to the local economy.
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