63 Washington Stakeholders Call on NPS to Restore Park Staffing and Funding
Washington Wild has coordinated a letter signed by 63 conservation and recreation groups, local businesses, elected officials, and rural economic leaders in support for America’s national parks. The letter, submitted as part of the National Park Service’s public comment process on improving visitor services, emphasizes that underfunding and staff shortages are directly impacting the quality, safety, and sustainability of park experiences across the nation—and particularly in Washington State.
Tolmie Peak Lookout in Mount Rainier NP, Kevin Thompson
Since January, NPS has lost nearly a quarter of its permanent workforce and local communities near Mount Rainier, Olympic, and North Cascades National Parks are feeling the strain. While more people than ever are discovering the wonder of our national parks—331 million in 2024—there are fewer staff than ever to support them. Visitor centers like Stehekin and Hoh are struggling to stay open. Ranger programs have been reduced or eliminated entirely. Maintenance is falling behind because there simply aren’t enough hands to get the job done.
Private partners and local businesses that depend on NPS operations are also feeling the squeeze. In “gateway” communities, tourism and recreation aren’t side industries, they’re the backbone of the local economy. Across Washington State, outfitters, gear shops, lodges, and restaurants rely on a steady stream of visitors coming to our state’s three national parks. Without adequate NPS staff to manage leases, permits, and cooperative agreements, these local businesses and economies are at risk.
To protect these benefits and ensure that future generations inherit the same opportunities for wonder and connection that we enjoy today, the letter urges NPS and Congress to restore staffing levels, stabilize funding, and invest in the people who make our parks the pride of the nation.
