"The National Park Service superintendent left his position after less that 5 months, frustrated with what he considered the dismantling of Crater Lake National Park."
"KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. — Crater Lake National Park Superintendent Kevin Heatley has resigned, citing deep staffing cuts he says are unsustainable and damaging to one of the nation’s natural treasures.
Heatley stepped down Friday after just five months in the role. In an interview with KGW on Tuesday, he said the decision was difficult but necessary given the direction of federal staffing policies.
“I did not want to be empowering the current administration to cause that kind of impact on the people that I’m responsible for,” Heatley said. “And I also did not want to participate in the dismantlement — effectively a dismantlement — of the National Park Service.”
Heatley criticized what he described as a systemic effort to shrink the Park Service workforce, pointing to early retirement incentives for veteran employees, and terminations of newer staff without clear cause. He said policies initiated under the Trump administration continue to erode the agency’s ability to function."
Tim Gordon reports for KGW8 Portland June 3, 2025.
SEE ALSO:
"How Exodus Is Eroding Alaska National Parks’ Support System" (National Parks Traveler)
Advertisement 
