The mass layoffs across federal agencies, including Great Basin National Park, have had a significant impact, both on the park’s operations and the local community. With 20 percent of park staff fired, including five probationary park rangers, the park is struggling to maintain its services. The layoffs are part of a broader review of federal spending, resulting in thousands of federal employees losing their jobs. This event has been dubbed the “Valentine’s Day Massacre” due to its timing and widespread impact.
The layoffs have led to immediate effects on park operations, such as the cancellation of Lehman Cave tours. The reductions have also raised safety concerns, as the emergency search and rescue unit has been reduced to just one member, a worrying prospect given the park’s remote location.
The local economy, heavily reliant on tourism, is also facing uncertainty. Businesses like Liz Woolsey’s Bristlecone General Store and Stargazer Inn are feeling the impact, with the community gathering to express their concerns and support for those affected.
Travis Mason-Bushman, the park’s spokesman, publicly shared his dismay over the layoffs on LinkedIn, highlighting the essential roles these employees played and questioning the rationale behind such cuts. The National Park Service and the Interior Department have not provided comments, while the White House deferred to the park service’s parent agency.
The layoffs have sparked broader questions about the direction of government spending cuts, particularly those led by the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency under the Trump administration, which aims to reduce spending as a measure against inflation.