Billboard blitz across Northeast Ohio slams national park cuts

• The billboards warn of the potential consequences of National Park Service layoffs, like longer waits, more trash and dirty bathrooms.

State of play: Several workers at Cuyahoga Valley National Park were laid off in February in the Trump administration's purge of federal employees at national parks and forests.

Zoom in: Nearly 70 of the group's 300 billboards are going up in Ohio, with signs installed along highways and major streets in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Dayton.

• Locally, the billboards will be visible on I-90, I-71, I-77, I-480, I-271 and US 422.
• The group plans to keep the billboards up for about a month.

What they're saying: "Some elected officials and unelected billionaires would rather privatize or eliminate our public services," Faiz Shakir, executive director of More Perfect Union, says in a statement. Shakir, who ran Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign, founded the pro-labor news outlet and its political advocacy arm shortly before the first Trump administration.

• "We believe strongly in the need for great public parks and outdoor spaces that all Americans can enjoy."

The other side: Interior Department spokesperson Katie Martin didn't address the DOGE cuts directly.

• "We are working hard to make this another great year for visitors so that everyone can enjoy the beauty and wonder of the treasured landscapes in our Parks across the country," says Martin. "Park employees nationwide are enthusiastically preparing for an exciting peak season, with a shared goal of delivering exceptional service and unforgettable park experiences."

Editor's note: This story was updated to include a statement from the Interior Department as well as a fuller description of More Perfect Union.