The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) has issued a warning regarding the administration’s 2027 budget proposal, which includes a $736 million reduction—over 25%—to National Park Service (NPS) operations.
This proposal follows a year of significant workforce losses, with the Park Service losing nearly 25% of its staff—over 4,000 employees—since January 2025 due to pressured resignations and hiring barriers according to a press release.
The proposed cuts arrive as public interest in outdoor recreation reaches new heights, with 26 national parks setting attendance records last year and total visitation topping 323 million in 2025.
Despite this demand, the budget suggests a 72% reduction in the NPS annual construction budget compared to 2025 levels, leaving less than $50 million for essential repairs.
A central and controversial element of the proposal is the establishment of a $10 billion “Presidential Capital Stewardship Program”.
This program is intended to fund construction and beautification projects specifically in and around Washington, D.C..
Critics, including the NPCA, have noted that this $10 billion allocation is more than three times the total annual NPS budget, yet it remains unclear how much of it would address the $1.5 billion maintenance backlog in the capital versus funding new construction.
The budget does include support for the reauthorization of the Legacy Restoration Fund, which was established by the Great American Outdoors Act but expired last year.
This fund is considered vital for addressing the more than $23 billion in deferred maintenance currently facing the national park system.
However, other preservation efforts face deep cuts, including an 87% reduction for the National Heritage Area program and a 95% cut to the Historic Preservation Fund.
“A cut this massive would be catastrophic,” stated John Garder, senior director of budget and appropriations for the NPCA.
Garder noted that park staff are already at a breaking point and emphasized that “investing in national parks is investing in America,” pointing to a recent poll showing that more than two-thirds of Americans reject such drastic budget reductions.
This budget cycle is particularly critical for the outdoor recreation industry as it directly impacts the infrastructure and staffing levels that support millions of campers and travelers.