Photo: G. Yancy/Flickr

Months of budget turmoil and a 44-day federal shutdown have left parks without the staff or resources they need. Across the country, these treasured places are being pushed to a breaking point.

Since January, the National Park Service has lost a quarter of its workforce, with more cuts expected. That means closed visitor centers, stalled maintenance, and fewer rangers to keep trails safe and open. 

This is not sustainable. 

And it’s not just national parks feeling the strain. Local parks are also experiencing delayed funding and paused progress—short-term setbacks that become long-term losses for the people and neighborhoods that depend on them.

Before members of Congress head home for the holidays, we need them to take action. Urge lawmakers to protect and invest in our parks and public lands.

Parks are more than amenities; they're essential to community health. They prevent flooding, support local economies, and provide places for people to gather, play, and connect.

When we neglect them, everyone loses. When we invest in them, everyone benefits. 

Let’s end this year by ensuring Congress hears us loud and clear: Our public lands are essential, and now is the time to invest in them.

Yours in conservation,

Your friends at Trust for Public Land

How important is it to you that Congress invests in public lands before the end of the year?