The Administration Isn’t Even Trying to Hide the Corruption
President Donald Trump has the National Park Service in his sights. Last year, his administration reduced its workforce by 25 percent, or more than 4,000 positions. The job cuts mean there are fewer employees to take care of our national treasures. As a result, there are reduced hours at visitor centers, and no proper maintenance.
Recently, the Trump administration used the same construction company that is building the White House ballroom to repair two ornamental fountains in Lafayette Park. The Biden administration projected in 2022 that the repairs would cost only $3.3 million. However, Trump awarded Clark Construction a $17.4 million contract to repair the fountains.
The New York Times investigation found that the administration awarded the construction company the contract without considering other companies. Usually, federal agencies do not award no-bid contracts. This project is one of the largest NPS contracts of Trump’s second term in office.
Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility sent a letter to Congress on April 28, 2026. The environmental group asked Congress to subpoena agency officials and representatives of the contract and to hold public hearings. “We urge your committees to fully review all documents related to the award contract,” the group stated in the letter.
National Parks & the House Budget Bill
If Congress passes the budget in the House Fiscal Year 2027 bill, the NPS will not experience more substantial cuts. The House would provide $2.9 billion for the operation of national parks. However, this is a 1.3 percent reduction to the NPS budget, including a $41 million reduction to historic preservation. That includes state and tribal historic preservation offices.
There are “burdensome provisions,” as the Center for Biological Diversity puts it. Weakening protections for national parks and public lands is among them. Some animals would lose endangered species protections, including grizzly bears, grey wolves, and wolverines. There would be no restrictions on hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting on federal lands.
The House Appropriations Committee states that the bill “prioritizes unleashing American energy and rightsizing agency funding levels.” That includes a 20 percent ($1.8 billion) reduction to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole touts the budget as one that “advances America’s natural legacy while promoting growth, security, and responsible governance.” He refers to it as a “commonsense vision for the future.” Interior and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Mike Simpson says the bill will “bolster domestic energy, promote critical mineral production, and ensure access to public lands.”
By bolstering domestic energy and promoting mineral production, he means more oil and gas drilling on public lands. Ensuring access to public lands is code for allowing people to overfish and overhunt on public lands, including national parks.
“The Park Service has already lost thousands of staff, resulting in reduced protection of irreplaceable resources, shortened visitor center hours, closures of trails and campgrounds, and scaled-back programs. Any further cuts would put visitor safety, park experiences, and irreplaceable landscapes and historic treasures at even greater risk.” John Garder, Senior Director of Budget and Appropriations, National Parks Conservation Association
Jim Wallis, activist and founder of Sojourners, believes that a budget is a moral document. The House’s 2027 budget bill reveals a dark morality that treats the environment as a means of serving the economy for the richest among us. It shows a clear disregard for our national parks.
Image by Juha Uitto on Flickr under a Creative Commons license
