Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities
** National Park Service asks employees to help with their own layoffs
------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday, May 1, 2025
Park ranger leading a hike. GlacierNPS, Flickr ([link removed])
National Park Service (NPS) employees were instructed ([link removed]) late last week to submit their resumes as the Interior department prepares to make more staff reductions.
This comes on the heels of an order ([link removed]) signed by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum giving Tyler Hassen, Elon Musk's DOGE operative, complete control of the department's organization and staffing. Hassen does not need to report back to Burgum regarding staffing decisions, giving Hassen the unrestricted authority to fire public land managers, park rangers, wildlife specialists, and more.
National parks are already hurting from Musk's last round of firings, which has left scientists, rangers, and IT staff cleaning ([link removed]) campground bathrooms. According to ([link removed]) the Resistance Rangers, a group of over 1000 off-duty NPS rangers, these reductions would paralyze the ability of the NPS to carry out its legally mandated mission ([link removed]) of conserving the scenery, natural objects, and wildlife of national parks for future generations to enjoy.
Cuts in personnel or funding for the National Park Service will likely be met with opposition from Americans. Eighty-six percent ([link removed]) of Westerners approve of the National Park Service, and 75 percent ([link removed]) are opposed to cutting funding for public land management agencies.
** Quick hits
------------------------------------------------------------
National Park Service asks workers to help with their own layoffs
SFGATE ([link removed])
Decision looming for Trump administration on first PFAS drinking water limits
Associated Press ([link removed])
Summer heat could contribute to harmful air quality across the Mountain West
Nevada Public Radio ([link removed])
CDC reinstates workers who screen coal miners for black lung disease
Washington Post ([link removed])
Opinion: Colorado could adopt some of the country’s strongest landfill air pollution regulations
Colorado Newsline ([link removed])
Interior Department pledges to reduce environmental reviews for large projects to ‘weeks’
Montana Free Press ([link removed])
Disagreements continue on the future of Bureau of Land Management's HQ
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel ([link removed])
Endangered axolotls bred in captivity can survive in wild, study finds
Washington Post ([link removed])
** Quote of the day
------------------------------------------------------------
” They are great recreation drivers. They really drive economic activity in rural parts of the West that don't have a lot of other economic activity going on.”
—Kate Groetzinger, Communications Manager at the Center for Western Priorities, on national monuments. KUNR ([link removed])
** Picture This
------------------------------------------------------------
@nationalparkservice ([link removed])
We’re not one to rely on looks, but, well, today we are. Enjoy.
In all seriousness, wait, we’re always serious. Okay, a bit unhinged/hinged (If you know, you know), often educational (We try), always deep, wait, that’s Crater Lake. We digress. Sometimes it’s just nice to sit back, swipe forward, and enjoy the pretty pictures.
Image: A full moon rushing above treetops at @picturedrocksnps ([link removed])
============================================================
** Website ([link removed])
** Instagram ([link removed])
** Facebook ([link removed])
** TikTok ([link removed])
** Medium ([link removed])
Copyright © 2025 Center for Western Priorities, All rights reserved.
You've signed up to receive Look West updates.
Center for Western Priorities
1999 Broadway
Suite 520
Denver, CO 80202
USA
** View this on the web ([link removed])
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can ** update your preferences ([link removed])
or ** unsubscribe from this list ([link removed])
