Flagstaff, Arizona (azfamily) – It’s only been a few months since the peak tourist season at national parks across the country, including the Grand Canyon.
However, park employees across the country say job openings for the 2025 season have been cancelled, coupled with a federal hiring freeze.
National Park Bureau (NPS) employs more than 20,000 people nationwide. The Grand Canyon helps with everything from keeping the park clean to maintaining trails and searches and rescues, but federal cuts can affect all of that.
Over 325 million people visit the national park Grand Canyon Every year. NPS employees are in the background and foreground and work to maintain these valuable destinations.
On his first day in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to suspend federal employment. On the same day, another order was signed to exempt seasonal workers from this freeze.
Unions to protect American national parks; On behalf of more than 3,000 national park employees, he said that 2025 seasonal and permanent park services jobs were cancelled or delayed.
Union Chairman Phil Francis worked in national parks for over 40 years. He said people working in the national park helped educate the public, clean up trash, help with search and rescue.
“It’s not just work,” Francis said. “They’re so devoted and become their lives.”
Francis said he believes this is a political move, not a financial move.
“I don’t think you can say it for financial reasons because I know that $3.5 billion of spending on the National Park Service each year generates more than $50 billion in economic benefits.” He said.
Much of that money goes directly to the towns surrounding the park. Tusayan, Williams and Flagstaff are gateways to the Grand Canyon, attracting around 5 million visitors a year.
Francis said he can feel the boundaries of work even within the boundaries of work, especially during busy seasons.
“What people are likely to find: fewer rangers, maybe more garbage, more damage to resources,” Francis said. “You may not be able to find someone at the visitor center. There may be fewer programs. You know, not many people there are many who care about the trail.”
He said he lost 3,000 jobs in recent years due to budget cuts.
“We were bullying each other about being paid in the sunset, and you know, that’s really hard,” Francis said.
He said Parks needs to rely more on volunteers, but he doesn’t want people who dream of working for the NP to be discouraged.
“We hope our employees remember people to take care of them,” Francis said. “They are still part of a group of important people who serve the American public and protect their resources.”
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