“At Trust for Public Land, we are for fully funded public land management agencies—to keep our national parks, forests, refuges and public lands open, safe, and accessible to all. We are for investing in the people and programs that make our national parks and public lands thrive—from recreation and economic development to wildfire mitigation and climate resilience, and national historic preservation.
That’s why the Administration’s proposed 2026 budget—which would cut more than $1 billion from the National Park Service and remove sites from the National Park System—is so deeply alarming. These proposed cuts would be the most severe in the Park Service’s 109-year history, undermining the very fabric of the places Americans treasure most and that Congress intended to be protected for current and future generations.
This is not what the American people want—Americans love their National Parks and public lands. In fact, according to recent national polling[2] commissioned by Trust for Public Land, 62% of Americans oppose funding reductions for public land agencies, including the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. And by a 4-to-1 margin, Americans reject the idea of laying off the dedicated staff who care for these places every day. In all, 74% of Americans oppose the closure of national public lands—including visitor centers, campsites, and recreation areas—to reduce the federal budget.
Our parks and public lands are more than scenic backdrops or picturesque landscapes —they are economic engines, job creators, and spaces of history, healing, and community connection. Outdoor recreation supports a $1.2 trillion economy[3], with our national parks generating $55 billion annually for local economies and supporting 400,000 jobs, many in rural and underserved communities. These lands not only serve as economic drivers but also help protect us from the growing threats of wildfire and climate change, while providing essential opportunities for recreation, and the preservation of our shared cultural heritage.
Trust for Public Land has helped expand the National Park System by more than 65,000 acres because we believe, like generations of Americans before us, that some places are simply too important to lose. Our national parks and public lands are among our nation’s heirlooms and greatest legacies—and their protection and stewardship must be among our highest priorities.”
