Mass Protests Erupt as Trump’s National Park Cuts Spark Outrage Across America

News
Alex Bollinger
March 3, 2025
10 minutes read

(Photo by Spectrum News/Zarina Khairzada/Getty Images)

Across the country, from Yosemite to Yellowstone, thousands of Americans gathered in national parks on Saturday, holding up signs and chanting a simple but urgent message: “Protect our parks.”

The protests were sparked by President Donald Trump’s sweeping cuts to public lands, which saw around 2,000 recently hired U.S. Forest Service employees fired, along with an additional 1,000 National Park Service workers. The move, part of an ongoing effort to shrink federal agencies and cut spending, has left many worried about the future of America’s most treasured outdoor spaces.

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Former and current park employees have warned that the cuts could lead to longer wait times, unsanitary conditions, and even safety risks for visitors. Speaking at a protest in San Francisco’s Golden Gate National Recreation Area, retired park service worker John Goodwin didn’t hold back. “We need to stop the nonsense,” he said. “We need to hire back the people who were fired, not only at national parks but every federal employee who has lost their job in the last six weeks.”

National Park Cuts protest — Photo Credit: Getty Images

Following backlash, the administration made a slight concession, announcing plans to restore 50 jobs and bring on 3,000 seasonal workers. But for many, that wasn’t enough. The frustration was clear leading up to the protests, with one particularly bold statement coming from a group of laid-off Yosemite workers who scaled El Capitan and hung an American flag upside down—a traditional sign of “dire distress.”

Saturday’s demonstrations took place in dozens of states, spanning both massive parks and smaller national sites. In Rhode Island, protester Peri Sasnett called on the administration to “rehire illegally fired federal employees,” while rallying at the Roger Williams National Memorial in Providence.

Meanwhile, in Washington state, Austin Woods joined over 50 protesters at the Whitman Mission National Historic Site. “Sometimes it feels like there’s not a whole lot that we can do in the current political environment,” he said. “But one thing that we can do is be present, be vocal, and be passionate.”

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Trump’s administration has been executing mass layoffs across multiple federal agencies since taking office in January, particularly targeting employees still in their probationary periods. Prior to the firings, officials attempted to offer buyouts to federal workers and even imposed a hiring freeze.

Just days before the protests, a Trump administration memo ordered agencies to prepare for additional mass layoffs, stating that “large-scale reductions in force” were required. However, a federal judge quickly struck it down, ruling the directive legally invalid and ordering it to be rescinded.

For now, the fate of these parks—and the employees who keep them running—remains uncertain. But if this weekend’s protests made one thing clear, it’s that Americans aren’t willing to let their public lands be neglected without a fight.