Brrr!! Many feared Trumps hiring freeze would affect our National Parks. According to CNN, “President Donald Trump signed an executive action on Monday that implemented a hiring freeze for some federal workers in an effort to cut government payrolls.” National Parks are a part of the federal government, so the freeze threats the parks as they may not be able to hire new people for the summer tourism. National Parks were sponsored by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1901-1909.
According to the National Parks Traveler (NPT), Arches National Park in Moab, Utah and Canyonlands National Park in Moab, Utah are connected, but both lack a Chief Ranger as well as a Resource Manager. Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming has 70+ open positions, including a major lack in custodians. Zion National Park near Springdale, Utah needs “Law Enforcement Rangers, roads and trails foremen, and wildlife technicians.”

Maureen Finerty, spokeswoman of CPANP (Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks) said, “Some ideas that have been floated suggest that agencies only be allowed to fill one out of three vacancies. That would be devastating for NPS, which is already suffering from depleted staffing levels. We will be watching closely to see what OMB [Office of Management and Budget] recommends.”
Although now, the area has cleared up with a report from Coalter Baker, an OMB spokesman to CNN. “As long as the Department of Interior (which oversees the park service) gives advance notice to its OMB resource management office, the hiring of seasonal workers should be allowable.” The good news seems unsteady, but we are hopeful the parks will remain open this summer.

To celebrate the lift on the hiring freeze, visit some of the most visited and most beautiful parks our National Parks Service has to offer.
1. Rocky Mountain National Park:

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Our nearest Park (arguably the most beautiful (in my definitely biased opinion)) holds 415 square acres of mountain terrain. Estes Park is the most visited town near the park. There are 563 miles of trail! Try Bear Lake (.5 miles) or Longs Peak (15 miles). The park is sure to offer any type of trail and any type of hotel or campground.

2. Glacier National Park:

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Montana is home for these beautiful glacier-packed mountains. While mid-summer brings in the most tourists, my personal experience recommends early, early summer. The traffic isn’t as bad and the views are very snowy! Be careful, even in the dead of summer ice still makes your journeying, hiking, and driving a little more dangerous.

3. Sequoia National Park:

Are the snowy mountains not your scene? Try the gigantic, 275 feet (average height) tall sequoias at Sequoia National Park, California.

4. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park:

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This trip may be a more expensive adventure than the others, but if you’re going to the islands anyways make sure to visit this park!

The National Parks Service protects and preserves the gems of our country, so let’s be thankful for Trumps lift on the federal government hiring freeze, celebrate, and show our parks some love.

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