Federal layoffs hit North Carolina's national parks
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Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Photo Ashley Mahoney/Axios
Layoffs across the federal government are impacting North Carolina's national parks and other protected federal land in big and small ways.
Why it matters: Everything from the state's economy to user experience (how clean those public bathrooms are) could be affected.
Catch up quick: The Trump administration is cutting about 1,000 National Park Service and 3,400 Forest Service positions nationwide, Axios' Karri Peifer and Melissa Santos reported.
By the numbers: As of Friday, Feb. 21, six people have been let go from Cape Hatteras, 12 people from Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and at least one person from the Blue Ridge Parkway, Bill Wade, executive director of the Association of National Park Rangers, tells Axios.
- The Great Smoky Mountains employees who were laid off span across North Carolina and Tennessee as the national park is in both states.
Between the lines: With a smaller staff, visitor center hours and ranger-led programs may be reduced, Wade says. The custodial staff has been laid off in some areas as well, meaning trash might not be picked up as frequently or restrooms may not be cleaned as often.
- "The degree to which the public can equip themselves to be stewards of the parks is going to make a huge difference," Mark Eller, a spokesperson for Leave No Trace told Axios' Kale Williams.
- Several U.S. Forest Service employees working on hurricane recovery projects in North Carolina forests were also part of the federal layoffs, The Charlotte Observer reported.
The big picture: North Carolina's 10 national parks, trails, and historic sites are a boost for the state's economy, generating $2.6 billion in 2023, per a 2024 federal report.
- North Carolina ranked second nationwide for visitor spending.
What we're watching: The National Park Service recently said it will hire up to 7,700 seasonal positions this year, but it's unclear when those jobs will start, Wade says.