The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) recently released new data showing that a strong bipartisan majority of Americans reject recent and proposed cuts to our national parks. In fact, only 16% of Americans support the Trump administration’s continued staffing cuts to the National Park Service, and only 12% back the proposed massive budget reduction for the agency. NPCA said it commissioned YouGov to conduct a nationwide survey on topics such as recent cuts to National Park Service staff, attempts to erase history and science in our parks and the ability of presidents to designate national monuments. An overwhelming majority of respondents strongly oppose the administration’s attacks on the National Park Service and its dedicated rangers and support staff, NPCA said in a recent release.
The NPCA poll, which surveyed a representative national sample of 3,000 adults (18 years and older), was conducted from Oct. 27 – Nov. 2 by YouGov. The margin of error for this poll is +/-2.14 %.
Key findings include:
- A strong bipartisan majority (69%) of Americans oppose President Trump’s proposed $1 billion cut to the National Park Service’s budget, which could force the closure of at least 350 national parks sites across the country.
- A strong majority of Americans (62%) oppose the Trump administration’s plan to cut more National Park Service staff, which would crush an already overwhelmed Park Service that has been struggling for months.
- Across the political spectrum, more than 3 in 4 Americans (78%) agree that national parks should not remove photos, signs or other materials that tell factual aspects of America’s history, directly refuting the administration’s push to censor educational and historical materials from public access.
- A strong majority of Americans (77%), regardless of political affiliation, support the ability of presidents to designate national monuments, reflecting a desire to conserve more lands, history and heritage for future generations.
- Nearly 60% of Americans oppose opening lands in or adjacent to national parks for mining and drilling, recognizing that such activities can cause irreversible damage and threaten the very experiences millions of visitors come to national parks to enjoy.
Already this year, more than 4,000 Park Service permanent staff (more than 25%) have been forced out, and a nine-month-long hiring freeze has prevented key positions from being refilled. Despite impacts at parks and regional offices nationwide, Secretary Burgum and the administration continues to push reckless, short-sighted policies that undermine both the mission and the future of America’s national parks, NPCA said.
Even before the government shutdown, park staff were already being pulled from the field, visitor centers were closing and critical maintenance and research were falling behind. Despite these impacts, Secretary Burgum has continued preparing to slash thousands of positions at the Department of the Interior, including at least hundreds of National Park Service staff. For months, NPCA said it has demanded Secretary Burgum and the administration restore park staffing levels and halt any further cuts to park staffing and funding. The Park Service can’t uphold its mission to protect park resources and values for future generations without the dedicated people who protect and care for them. The will of the American people should not be ignored, NPCA said.
Statement by Theresa Pierno, president and CEO for the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA):
“This poll reaffirms that Americans are united in their support for our national parks. Protecting our national parks is a bipartisan issue. Across party lines, Americans reject the senseless cuts to budgets and park staff that have left national parks teetering on the brink. Americans want park stories, landscapes, wildlife and histories preserved. In fact, Americans agree that we need to conserve more of these places, not undermine, dismantle and silence the ones we have.
“For months, NPCA has urged Secretary Burgum to do right by our national parks. We hope this poll is a wake-up call for him, showing how deeply unpopular his cuts have been. Nobody asked for reckless cuts to park staffing or the gutting of our shared heritage. Nobody wants this.
“Since January, the Park Service has lost more than 25% of their permanent staff, a historic low that’s having visible impacts. Even before the current government shutdown, visitor centers were cutting hours, educational programs were canceled and critical maintenance, science and resource protection work were falling behind. Park rangers and support staff are the frontline defenders of America’s wildest and most iconic places and safeguard the history that defines who we are. Losing even one more park staff puts the future of our parks at risk. And Americans overwhelmingly agree they don’t want that.
“Americans have spoken loud and clear. It’s time to stop destroying America’s best idea and start investing in it.”
