WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) – the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Subcommittee on National Parks, respectively – today called for top Senate appropriators to allocate sufficient funds for National Park Service (NPS) staff, as visitation and workloads increase in the system. In a letter to leaders of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior & Environment, the Senators highlight the growing burdens on NPS staff, and urge appropriators to provide funds that would allow the Service to reach a staffing level of 23,000 full-time equivalent positions. The letter comes after months of feedback Senators Daines and King have heard from top NPS officials and conservation experts on the issue of park staffing as many parks see a spike in visitors. Since 2011, park staffing has steadily declined, while park visitation has significantly increased.

“As you continue to work on the Interior and Environment appropriations bill for fiscal year (FY) 2022, we write to thank you for including funding for an additional 1,000 full-time equivalent (FTEs) positions at the National Park Service (NPS). We also encourage you to continue working towards the ultimate goal of a staffing level of 23,000 FTEs at the NPS,” said Senators King and Daines.

“As more Americans are seeking opportunities offered by our public lands and our national parks, visitation at NPS units have skyrocketed over the last year—many of the nation’s most popular parks consistently set attendance records through 2021,” continued the Senators. “While these record numbers can be beneficial to gateway communities, we need to be mindful that visitation and staffing levels at the NPS have not kept pace with each other. Since FY2011, staffing at the park service has steadily declined, from 22,051 FTEs in FY2011 to 18,567 FTEs in FY2020. During this time period, NPS visitation has increased from 278.9 million visits in 2011 to 327.5 million visits in 2019.”

“As members of the Senate Subcommittee on National Parks, we hope to continue shining a light on the importance and value our national parks bring to our country—and the roles they play for the gateway communities that are supported by the visitors that come to see these treasures. NPS staff are some of the most mission-driven employees in the federal government, and we should be ensuring that they have the support they need to continue serving the public and protecting our national treasures,” concluded the Senators. “Achievements like the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act will help to address some of the infrastructure needs at national parks, but if we don’t have the appropriate staff to carry out these projects—and to fulfill the daily needs at parks—that milestone will not be as impactful as it could be.”

A member of the Energy and Natural Resources and Chairman of the Subcommittee on National Parks, Senator King is among the Senate’s loudest voices advocating for public lands and encouraging outdoor recreation. He was recently awarded the inaugural National Park Foundation (NPF) “Hero” Award. Senator King helped lead the passage the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) into law; the legislation includes the Restore Our Parks Act – a bill led by Senator King – and the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Permanent Funding Act. The historic legislative package continues Senator King’s career-long focus on conservation efforts, dating back to his work prior to running for elected office through his years as Governor and his service in the Senate. Over the course of his time in the Blaine House, Governor King was responsible for conserving more land across Maine than all Governors before him combined. 

Senator Daines is the top Republican on the U.S. Senate’s National Parks Subcommittee and has championed efforts to increase access to public lands and support national parks and gateway communities. While Chairman of the National Parks Subcommittee in the 115th and 116th Congress, Daines held a field hearing in Gardiner, Montana, a gateway community to Yellowstone National Park, to hear firsthand the benefits and concerns faced by communities, as well as a hearing at Grant Kohrs National Park to discuss visitation at smaller park units. Daines also championed the “Great American Outdoors Act” that invests in our national parks and public lands.

You can read the full letter – addressed to Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Vice Chair Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) and Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior & Environment Chair Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Ranking Member Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) – HERE or below:

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Dear Chairman Leahy, Chair Merkley, Vice Chairman Shelby, and Ranking Member Murkowski,

As you continue to work on the Interior and Environment appropriations bill for fiscal year (FY) 2022, we write to thank you for including funding for an additional 1,000 full-time equivalent (FTEs) positions at the National Park Service (NPS). We also encourage you to continue working towards the ultimate goal of a staffing level of 23,000 FTEs at the NPS.

As more Americans are seeking opportunities offered by our public lands and our national parks, visitation at NPS units have skyrocketed over the last year—many of the nation’s most popular parks consistently set attendance records through 2021, and while we are still waiting on the final visitation numbers for the year, we are confident that this year will be another one for the record books. While these record numbers can be beneficial to gateway communities, we need to be mindful that visitation and staffing levels at the NPS have not kept pace with each other.

Since FY2011, staffing at the park service has steadily declined, from 22,051 FTEs in FY2011 to 18,567 FTEs in FY2020.[1] During this time period, NPS visitation has increased from 278.9 million visits in 2011 to 327.5 million visits in 2019 (2020 visitations were down dramatically, likely due to COVID-19).[2] Included below is a chart demonstrating this trend at Yellowstone from 2000 to 2016, showing the dramatic increase of visitation and the stagnant staffing levels at one of the America’s most recognizable parks.[3] Our NPS staff, like all federal employees, have been faced with difficult challenges during the pandemic and being understaffed is an additional burden Congress can help address with additional funding.

As members of the Senate Subcommittee on National Parks, we hope to continue shining a light on the importance and value our national parks bring to our country—and the roles they play for the gateway communities that are supported by the visitors that come to see these treasures. NPS staff are some of the most mission-driven employees in the federal government, and we should be ensuring that they have the support they need to continue serving the public and protecting our national treasures. Achievements like the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act will help to address some of the infrastructure needs at national parks, but if we don’t have the appropriate staff to carry out these projects—and to fulfill the daily needs at parks—that milestone will not be as impactful as it could be.

Thank you again for your work to increase funding to add additional FTEs within the NPS—we are optimistic that together we can continue to increase staffing at our parks and make sure these sites are fully staffed to handle the increased visitation we will surely continue to see in the years ahead.

Sincerely,

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