Protect Public Lands, End the Park Ranger Shortage (UPDATED 10/23)

Updates

Oct 23, 2025: DOI plans to begin mass layoffs during the federal government shutdown, despite a temporary restraining order issued by a federal judge. Plaintiff unions in the lawsuit may protect some NPS employees, but thousands of others are vulnerable to layoffs, further devastating the agency and the parks.

The Trump administration has created a massive public lands staffing crisis. The National Park Service has already lost a quarter of its park rangers, with key services impacted, like search and rescue, firefighting, research, and maintenance. Instead of hiring more park rangers to address this emergency, the Department of the Interior–which manages agencies like the National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management–is moving forward with mass firings and budget cuts. These staffing cuts threaten our public lands and critical public services: from wildfire response and land management to clean water protection and tribal obligations.

In response, Congressional Democrats have introduced H.R.4854 and S. 2597, the Saving the Department of the Interior’s Workforce Act, to stop the firings and protect the rangers who work to preserve America’s public lands.

Demand your legislators support legislation to stand up for the people who protect your public lands.

Content for this call topic kindly provided by Resistance Rangers, a collective of over 1000 rangers (always off-duty), former rangers, and friends of the national parks.