Park staff re-hired as court challenge continues

The National Park Service has moved to re-hire the 1,000 staff illegally laid off in February by the Trump administration.

However, uncertainty over the employees’ long-term job status at NPS lingers as the administration continues to battle in court, arguing it has the right to arbitrarily terminate thousands of federal employees without due process and in violation of the federal Administrative Procedures Act.

Several previous laid-off NPS workers took to social media to announce that they had been rehired by the federal parks authority. Many also acknowledged that it’s not clear if they will be allowed to remain.

“The Park Service is now authorized to reinstate all 1,000 probationary park staff who were terminated on February 14,” the National Parks Conservation Association (NCPA) confirmed.

Previously, NPS was only allowed to rehire 400 of the laid-off employees, putting the rest on administrative leave. A court order has since cleared the way for all to be reinstated.

It wasn’t clear if all 1,000 would be willing to return given the lingering uncertainty. Many readily returned to what they said were their ultimate dream jobs as park rangers and scientists.

“I’m happy to report that my colleagues and I have been fully reinstated to our positions at the National Park Service, at least for the time being,” Angela Moxley told her followers on LinkedIn. “Now we are watching the courts.”

Kate Severson, a ranger at Voyageurs National Park in northern Minnesota, confirmed for Public Parks that she’s been reinstated. But for how much longer, she doesn’t know.

The Trump administration through the Department of the Interior is still fighting in court to be allowed to re-fire all reinstated employees.

NPCA is calling on the administration to drop its attempts at arbitrarily and permanently laying off thousands of NPS staff.

The National Park Service has long been plagued by understaffing and inadequate budgets before Trump won reelection last November.

Trump launched his attack on public lands shortly after assuming office.

Already facing booming demand, visitors to the national parks this year can expect long lines to enter, dirty bathrooms, unkempt trails, crowded facilities, and other inconveniences should the planned layoffs proceed.

The impact is immediate. Officials at Arches National Park in Utah announced that they will no longer issue permits for people to hike the popular Fiery Furnace section, citing staff shortages. The hiking area will be closed indefinitely.

At a minimum, NPS’s workforce will be left demoralized as staff contend with record park visitations.

NPS recorded nearly 332 million visits to the national parks in 2024.

“When these park staff lost their jobs, many also lost their homes and communities,” NPCA CEO Thomas Pierno said. “Now, with uncertainty looming over if or when the next cut might come, it’s unclear how many will choose to return.”

“The Park Service stands to lose an irreplaceable wealth of expertise, experience, and institutional knowledge they may never get back,” he added.