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Trump signals he is open to cutting China tariffs to 80% ahead of trade negotiations; Pope Leo XIV calls Church 'a beacon to illuminate dark nights' in first mass; Medicaid cuts risk health care access for VA military families; Does climate change 'perception gap' silence action in Mississippi? 'Forever families' needed for PA children in foster care.

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A judge orders certification of the 2024 North Carolina Supreme Court race, Wisconsin Democrats want congressional maps redrawn, and the interim U.S. Attorney for District of Columbia loses the job over his support for January 6th rioters.

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Volunteers with AmeriCorps are devastated by cuts to the 30-year-old program, Head Start has dodged elimination but cuts are likely, moms are the most vulnerable when extreme weather hits, and bullfrogs await their 15-minutes of fame in rural California.

'He didn't cut red tape': ND mayor echoes worry about national park layoffs

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Tuesday, March 18, 2025   

As legal fights play out, national park enthusiasts in North Dakota worry about a situation where staff reductions, carried out by the Trump administration, make visitors cancel their trip.

Nearly 1,000 National Park Service workers were recently let go as part of broader federal layoffs. Lawsuits led to court decisions, demanding the workers be rehired but additional rulings are expected. Meanwhile, communities near the sites acknowledged possible tourism dips if the cuts stand and the park service suffers.

Phil Riely, mayor of Watford City, near Theodore Roosevelt National Park, likes the idea of spending reform but said President Donald Trump got it wrong.

"He didn't cut bureaucracy, he didn't cut red tape," Riely pointed out. "What he did was he cut honest working American people that support their families and provide a service to us in the general population that we might not get this summer."

He pointed out there are park employees who live in his North Dakota community and there are visitors who spend money at local hotels and restaurants. Even with the administration currently under order to bring staffers back, advocates said not all might want to return amid legal uncertainty moving forward. The administration, which has staunchly defended its actions is working toward additional layoffs.

Crystal Davis, Midwest senior regional director for the National Parks Conservation Association, said for customer service, layoffs will be noticed by the hundreds of millions of Americans who visit the parks each year.

"There could be custodial staff fired, or there's not the programming that we anticipated," Davis explained. "We know that it's a high likelihood that the customer experience will be impacted."

There have been Congressional efforts in recent years to address maintenance backlogs at national parks. However, Davis noted most operations are still vastly under-resourced, including staffing but she suggested the people still guiding tours or keeping parks clean have remained committed to helping people enjoy their visit.

"Most of the people that are working in these jobs really have a heart for people," Davis observed. "When you are really dedicated to something, went through the necessary training and sacrifices to really move up the ranks, it's devastating to get cut from your dream job."

In a White House appearance where he defended the job cuts, Trump said there are many federal employees who do not do the work but the dramatic downsizing still faces growing backlash.

Disclosure: The National Parks Conservation Association contributes to our fund for reporting on Budget Policy and Priorities, Climate Change/Air Quality, Endangered Species & Wildlife, Environment, Public Lands/Wilderness, and Water. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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