Trump Is Quietly Planning to Majorly Change How National Parks Are Run

Key Points:

• The Trump administration plans a major reorganization of the National Park Service (NPS) and other Interior Department bureaus, aiming to centralize management through a “hub and spoke” model where select “hub” parks oversee “spoke” parks, shifting power from regional leadership to park superintendents at hubs.
• The reorganization, developed in secrecy with limited internal involvement, has caused anxiety among staff and advocates, especially amid prior significant staff reductions exceeding 10,000 employees since Trump took office.
• Draft documents suggest the changes aim to improve efficiency, resource sharing, and accountability but raise concerns about potential negative impacts on individual parks’ unique needs and missions, with critics warning that centralized control may undermine local adaptation and advocacy.
• The plan includes restructuring NPS divisions, such as renaming the culture and science division to Resource Stewardship and creating a new Law Enforcement, Safety and Health Division, sparking fears of de-emphasizing scientific and cultural work.
• The Interior Department has yet to notify Congress as legally required, and implementation timelines are uncertain following canceled meetings; advocates and former officials caution that the reorganization may worsen existing challenges without clear justification or addressing budget constraints.