Assateague Island has no lifeguards this summer amid Trump cuts
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Beachgoers at Assateague Island National Seashore. Photo: Karen Bleier/AFP via Getty Images
Assateague Island National Seashore doesn't have any lifeguards this year, and local officials and residents are sounding the alarm about the risk this poses for beachgoers.
Why it matters: It's the height of summer tourist season, and Assateague — which has seen a record number of visitors in recent years — is a popular weekend escape for many Washingtonians.
- Plus, the 100th annual nearby Chincoteague pony swim on July 30 is expected to draw tens of thousands of visitors to the area.
The big picture: The National Park Service (NPS) — which operates federal beaches like Assateague — is scrambling to keep parks running amid a national staffing shortage due to President Trump's cuts to the federal workforce, public parks advocates warn.
- NPS has seen a 24% drop in its permanent staff since January, according to the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA).
- Hiring for seasonal roles like lifeguards is down, too, with only about 4,500 roles filled of the almost 8,000 committed to by the administration.
- This means delayed emergency response times and fewer resources to protect visitors, per NPCA.
State of play: The six lifeguard positions on each of Assateague's Virginia and Maryland sides are unfilled, as is the chief lifeguard position.
- There were recently life-threatening situations during which "good Samaritans" had to help until emergency services could arrive, Chincoteague Mayor Denise Bowden told the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
By the numbers: Assateague lifeguards completed 24 rescues last year, and oversaw at least 21 incidents that would have otherwise been handled by local emergency medical services — which often take longer to reach the scene and aren't properly trained in ocean rescue.
What they're saying: "You can't put a price on somebody's life," Bowden told the Times-Dispatch. "You can't put a budget cut on somebody's life."
- "The lack of lifeguards will undoubtedly result in death and injury that would otherwise be prevented," B. Chris Brewster, chair of the National Certification Committee at the United States Lifesaving Association, told the Washington Post of the national shortage.
The other side: "Visitors have always had access to unguarded beaches and guarded beaches even after lifeguards leave for the day. Lifeguard shortages are a nationwide concern even outside of our public lands," a NPS spokesperson told Axios. "We appreciate the public's understanding and cooperation as we work to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all."
- The NPS spokesperson recommended that visitors learn to identify riptides, stay alert for strong ocean currents, and never turn their backs to the ocean.
Zoom in: NPS never posted listings for the Assateague lifeguard positions, Ed Stierli, a regional director at the NPCA, told the Times-Dispatch.
- The administration's initial federal hiring freeze came as NPS was recruiting seasonal workers. It later lifted this freeze, but local officials speculate it was too late by then for hiring.
Zoom out: Lifeguard shortages are also affecting other federally run beaches along the East Coast, such as New York's Great Kills Park Beach and New Jersey's Gateway National Recreation Area, the Post reports.