As the summer hiking season begins, visitors to U.S. public lands are facing uncertainty due to significant staffing and budget cuts at key federal agencies. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. Forest Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) are all struggling with reduced resources.
The Trump administration’s focus on reducing government spending has resulted in notable staff reductions across multiple public land agencies. These cuts are already creating disruptions at popular recreation sites and could continue to strain the agencies responsible for managing these lands.
The BLM, for instance, oversees over 235 million acres and has seen both layoffs and budget reductions that threaten its ability to effectively manage recreational areas and conservation efforts, as reported by The New York Times.
Staffing Cuts Lead to Reduced Services for Visitors
The Forest Service has experienced significant layoffs, with 3,400 employees cut in recent months, primarily affecting non-firefighting personnel. According to Mary Erickson, a retired forest supervisor at Custer Gallatin National Forest in Montana, these workers handle essential tasks, including trail maintenance and campground management.
These cuts are felt deeply, especially in remote backcountry areas that are popular with serious hikers. With fewer wilderness rangers available, the agency’s ability to monitor these areas for illegal activity or conduct search-and-rescue operations is severely diminished.
While the National Park Service (NPS) has been at the centre of much of the public debate surrounding staffing shortages, it is the BLM, Forest Service, and FWS that manage the majority of public lands across the United States.
These agencies have been hit particularly hard by budget cuts, with the BLM alone facing an $81 million reduction in its funding in 2024. According to The New York Times, the BLM has seen a 41% increase in recreational visitors since 2012, but the reduction in staffing has made it difficult to manage the influx of visitors.
For many visitors, these public lands represent the easiest access to outdoor activities, with few crowds or fees compared to national parks.
Impact on Wildlife Conservation and Public Access
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has also suffered a significant blow, with 470 staff members laid off in recent months. As the agency responsible for overseeing the National Wildlife Refuge System, which covers more than 560 refuges, these staff cuts could disrupt access to some of the most important wildlife habitats in the country.
Popular wildlife refuges, such as Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge in Florida and Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge in Hawaii, rely heavily on their staff to manage day-to-day operations and educational programs for visitors. Without adequate staff, the future of these vital programs remains uncertain.
In addition to the reduction in services, volunteer programs that support these agencies’ efforts are also at risk.
Without steady funding, the future of such initiatives becomes even more uncertain because volunteers usually cover the gaps caused by staff shortages. These cuts jeopardize long-term wildlife conservation objectives in addition to affecting the public’s ability to visit and enjoy these properties.
The organizations responsible for protecting U.S. public lands are still feeling the effects of the budget cuts made under Trump. This summer, hikers and nature lovers may have a worse experience as a result of the organizations’ struggles to coordinate conservation initiatives and recreational access due to a lack of finance and staff.
