NPS leaders plan 30 percent payroll cuts

Energy & Environment

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NPS leaders plan 30 percent payroll cuts

The Trump administration is eyeing major payroll reductions at the National Park Service, signaling big cuts at a high-profile agency heading toward the warmer months.

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Managers were asked to put together plans to eliminate 30 percent of payroll, a former employee who had to put together one such plan told The Hill.

The reduction would be to payroll, meaning it would not necessarily lead to a 30 percent reduction in the National Park Service’s staffing, since some workers earn more than others.

The ex-employee who spoke with The Hill said such a reduction likely would be felt in the near term with potential losses for rangers and janitors — and in the long term, with conservation projects potentially put at risk.

Workforce reductions have been discussed across the government as Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency look to make large cuts across federal agencies and departments.

The Interior Department, which houses the National Park Service, declined to comment on any specific workforce reductions but acknowledged the Trump administration’s efforts to reduce costs to taxpayers.

“We do not comment on specific personnel matters,” spokesperson J. Elizabeth Peace said.

“Under President Donald J. Trump’s leadership, the Department is working to right-size the federal workforce, cut bureaucratic waste, and ensure taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently. By streamlining operations and reducing unnecessary positions, we are strengthening our ability to serve the public while making government more effective and accountable,” she added.

The National Park Service, like other parts of the federal government, has already seen workforce reductions through the elimination of probational employees. These federal workers held probationary status because they are new to their government jobs or positions. Some probationary workers, for example, are on that status because they were promoted to new positions.

The former employee said the cuts being planned at the National Park Service are a 30 percent total payroll cut, meaning they would include the probationary employees who were fired last month and would not be an additional 30 percent cut on top of them.

Read more of our scoop at TheHill.com.

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