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March 17, 2025 — Leave No Trace joins a growing number of outdoor industry partners speaking out about the dramatic workforce reductions that federal land-managing agencies are experiencing. “We are very concerned that staffing cuts at federal agencies like the Bureau of Land Management, the National Parks Service and the U.S. Forest Service, among others, will lead to the rapid deterioration of parks and natural areas across America,” said Leave No Trace Executive Director Dana Watts.
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“In the wake of these decisions, Leave No Trace is stepping up our efforts to inform the public about ways to reduce their impacts. But I do not doubt that losing rangers, maintenance workers, and other professionals makes natural areas vulnerable,” said Watts.
According to an OA statement, in the past month, an estimated 10-30 percent of staff at the Forest Service (USFS), National Park Service (NPS), and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) have been laid off. These staffing cuts will lead to fewer maintained trails, campground closures, and a diminished experience for the millions of Americans who rely on public lands for recreation and recreation-related jobs. Even more concerning, layoffs include emergency response teams and wildfire mitigation, which are vital to keeping people safe on public lands and waters.
“Outdoor recreation experiences depend on well-managed public lands, and these staffing cuts are already making it harder for people to access and enjoy the places they love,” said Louis Geltman, OA’s Vice President for Policy and Government Relations. “Trail crews, park rangers, and recreation staff do the essential work of keeping public lands open, safe, and well cared for, and losing them means more closures, more disrepair, and fewer opportunities for people to get outside. We need Congress and the administration to restore these jobs before the damage becomes irreversible.”
Paul Hendricks, Executive Director of The Conservation Alliance, added, “Our public lands are the backbone for our nation’s $1.2 trillion economy. They provide enormous benefits to businesses, employees, and communities across the country. The ongoing reduction of front line stewards to properly manage these resources will have devastating effects on nature and economies alike.”
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