Billboard blitz in Tampa Bay slams national park cuts
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Photo: Courtesy of More Perfect Union.
A pro-labor news outlet is putting up nine billboards across Tampa Bay this week to protest the Trump administration's cuts to national parks.
The big picture: More Perfect Union launched a multimillion-dollar national ad blitz in more than 40 cities decrying the gutting of "one of our nation's most treasured assets."
- The billboards warn of the potential consequences of National Park Service layoffs, like longer waits, more trash and dirty bathrooms.
State of play: Florida's national parks have been reportedly impacted by the Trump administration's purge of federal employees at national parks, including at Everglades National Park and Biscayne National Park.
Zoom in: The Tampa Bay billboards highlight the reported firings of park rangers at Biscayne National Park.
- The ads blame DOGE, the Elon Musk-led cost-slashing exercise, for the layoffs.
What they're saying: "We believe strongly in the need for great public parks and outdoor spaces that all Americans can enjoy," 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.
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.