"As the administration fires rangers and other workers, an internal memo is directing the National Park Service not to publicize visitors numbers."

"America’s national parks saw more than 331 million visits last year, a record. But the Trump administration does not want to call attention to those numbers, according to a National Park Service memo, amid mass firings of rangers and other employees at the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Arches and other popular destinations.

The internal memo, issued on Wednesday, said the agency would “not issue a press release or other proactive communications, including social media posts” regarding the numbers. Individual parks could make public visitor numbers if directly asked for them, it said. The data also was posted online.

The Trump administration fired about 1,000 National Park Service employees in February as part of a plan by President Trump and Elon Musk to reduce the size of the federal work force. More than 700 additional park employees also have submitted resignations as part of Mr. Musk’s “fork in the road” offer, and agency directors are required to report their plans for still more cuts to the White House by March 13."

Lisa Friedman reports for the New York Times March 6, 2025. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"Trump Property Purge To Include National Park Visitor Centers, Museums" (Washington Post) [3]