In an effort led by Outdoor Alliance, 120 outdoor recreation organizations and businesses are calling on U.S. lawmakers and the Trump administration to reverse staffing cuts affecting land-management agencies.
Signatories to the letter included brands such as Patagonia, KEEN and NEMO and REI Co-Op; advocacy groups such as OIA, The Conservation Alliance, the Next 100 Coalition and Surfrider Foundation; and other local recreation organizations and outdoor industry businesses.
In the past month, an estimated 10-30 percent of staff at the Forest Service (USFS), National Park Service (NPS) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) have been laid off. These reductions, the lobbyists claim, will make it harder for agencies to care for public lands and ensure safe, enjoyable outdoor experiences.
While some offices are seeing positions restored due to public outreach, agencies are now being required to submit plans for a reduction in force (RIF) and agency reorganization, meaning even more significant cuts could come.
Thecuts could lead to fewer maintained trails, campground closures and a diminished experience for the millions of Americans who rely on public lands for recreation and recreation-related jobs. Even more concerning, layoffs include emergency response teams and wildfire mitigation.
“Outdoor recreation experiences depend on well-managed public lands, and these staffing cuts are already making it harder for people to access and enjoy the places they love,” said Louis Geltman, Outdoor Alliance VP, policy and government relations. “Trail crews, park rangers and recreation staff do the essential work of keeping public lands open, safe and well cared for, and losing them means more closures, more disrepair and fewer opportunities for people to get outside. We need Congress and the administration to restore these jobs before the damage becomes irreversible.”
“Outdoor recreation is not just a nice option for Americans — it’s core to our economy and our overall well-being,” said Alicia Harvie, head of community and government affairs, REI Co-op. “Each year, our national parks and recreation destinations host nearly half a billion visits, none of which would be possible without the thousands of passionate, knowledgeable and highly skilled members of our public lands workforce. Following the recent layoffs in these ranks, we’ve already seen the quality and availability of recreation opportunities deteriorate across the country. For every dollar spent in our parks, local economies see a ten-dollar benefit. We must act now to restore these vital workers, support our gateway communities and ensure everyone maintains safe access to the great outdoors.”
“Our public lands are the backbone for our nation’s $1.2 trillion economy,” said Conservation Alliance executive director, Paul Hendricks. “They provide enormous benefits to businesses, employees and communities across the country. The ongoing reduction of frontline stewards to properly manage these resources will have devastating effects on nature and economies alike.”
“The outdoor recreation economy, and the businesses that support it, depend on well-managed and well-staffed public lands,” said OIA president, Kent Ebersole. “These cuts to land management agencies directly threaten the businesses, communities, and workers that rely on outdoor recreation. Without adequate staffing, access to recreation declines, infrastructure deteriorates and businesses suffer. We urge Congress to take immediate action to restore these critical positions and ensure our public lands remain an economic engine for the nation.”
