The National Park Service is at a critical juncture, with potential funding cuts threatening its operations. Park rangers and advocacy groups highlight that such cuts could severely impact fragile ecosystems and local economies that depend on tourism. Business owners, like Susan Burnett from Joshua Tree, report a decline in international visitors due to the current administration's policies and rhetoric. Despite the Park Service being highly trusted and contributing over $55 billion to the economy in 2023, its funding represents a small fraction of the federal budget, making its future uncertain amidst political discussions.
The administration is working in overdrive to essentially deceive the public into thinking that things are OK at our parks.
At any given time of the year, between 25 and 40% of my business is international travelers... I believe it's a direct result of Trump in this administration.
Polls consistently show Americans across the political spectrum rate the National Park Service as the most trusted federal agency.
Despite accounting for less than 1% of the federal budget, the Park Service delivers significant economic returns.
Collection
[
|
...
]