On Saturday, Yosemite National Park employees displayed an upside-down American flag atop El Capitan to protest drastic budget cuts impacting the National Park Service (NPS). This display coincided with Firefall at Horsetail Fall, attracting many photographers. The action followed significant staff reductions under Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, jeopardizing park maintenance and visitor safety. Employees stressed the importance of NPS rangers in preserving the parks and emphasized that without adequate staffing, the sustainability of national parks is threatened, underscoring the urgent need for public awareness and action.
"We're bringing attention to what's happening to the parks, which are every American's properties... we’re losing people here, and it’s not sustainable if we want to keep the parks open."
"National Park Service rangers are massively important to the preservation of our national parks. Their duties range from running programs... to maintaining the cleanliness and upkeep of trails."
"The upside-down flag, known as a 'distress flag', is a sign that something is desperately wrong. The act came shortly after DOGE fired more than 1,000 rangers."
"This year's Firefall at Horsetail Fall... begins to light up 5 to 15 minutes before sunset, looking almost like molten lava."
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