Park Service dodges DOGE questions

The Park Service won’t release specific numbers on resignations, reductions in force and retirements in Glacier National Park since the Department of Government Efficiency cuts went into effect earlier this year.

The Hungry Horse News knows of some retirements, including the Park’s public affairs officer and the deputy superintendent, Pete Webster.

The head of the Glacier’s backcountry permit office also retired. With a hiring freeze is in place, those positions won’t be replaced at least for the next few months, if ever.

The Trump Administration’s proposed budget cuts about $1 billion from the Park Service.

The DOGE cuts, commandeered by Elon Musk at the behest of the Trump administration, has drastically altered the permanent staffing at parks across the U.S.

But when the Hungry Horse News asked the Park Service directly how many jobs were lost in Glacier Park through retirements, reductions in force and early resignations it received the following:

“The National Park Service is focused on ensuring that every visitor has the opportunity to explore and connect with the incredible, iconic spaces of our national parks — including Glacier National Park. Our dedicated teams are committed to meeting the evolving needs of our visitors and ensuring memorable, meaningful experiences for all,” in an email to the Hungry Horse News. “As in past years, staffing levels and operational needs can vary based on a number of factors, including seasonality, budget timing, and ongoing assessments of park priorities. While we don’t comment on specific personnel matters, our employees are experienced problem solvers who adapt to changing conditions and remain focused on delivering high-quality experiences for every visitor.”

But on Tuesday, a source close to the matter said the combined resignations, retirements and other cuts amounted to a 25% reduction in permanent and permanent seasonal staffing.

The National Parks Conservation Association, a parks advocacy group, has grave concerns. While the Department of Interior did hire more seasonal employees this summer overall compared to previous years, the permanent staff often see to it that work gets done behind the scenes.

The NPCA points to nationwide Park Service staffing levels.

During a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing in late May, Department of Interior Secretary Doug Burgum claimed that “about 26,000 people work in the park system.” But according to the Department of the Interior’s own workforce database, as of May 13, 2025, the National Park Service had just 18,066 employees — a nearly 16.5% drop since  Fiscal Year 2023. 

Parks don’t appear to have much funding support in Congress, either.

The proposed reconciliation bill  (The Big Beautiful Bill) would strip all remaining Inflation Reduction Act funding for the Park Service — roughly $267 million dedicated to rebuilding staffing capacity across park units, NPCA claims.

That’s on top of a 20% reduction to the Park Service’s workforce since 2010, NPCA notes.

It’s not about doing more with less, argued Chad Lord, senior director of water policy at NPCA.

“We’re now doing less with less,” he said.

But visitors, at least to large parks like Glacier, may not see anything amiss. Lord likened it to going to a play. The viewer only sees what is in front of them.

“You see what you think you’re supposed to see,” he said. “But things will be falling apart.”

In a recent essay on the NPCA website, former Glacier National Park Superintendent Jeff Mow called it the “hollowing out” of the Park Service.

“We are seeing an administration that is not asking questions, not taking the time to understand the National Park Service mission and is not being very thoughtful, but is simply applying brute force business tactics to government agencies,” Mow said. “I’ve done a fair bit of leadership training involving business leaders, and there aren’t many who would say any of this emulates good business practices.”