The Protect our Parks Act of 2025 mandates the immediate full staffing of the National Park Service, the rehiring of recently terminated employees, and the continuation of all authorized park improvement projects.
Joe Neguse
Representative
CO-2
The Protect our Parks Act of 2025 mandates the Secretary of the Interior to immediately ensure the National Park Service is fully staffed to protect resources and enhance visitor safety. This legislation requires filling all maintenance positions and reinstating any NPS employees terminated since January 20, 2025. Furthermore, the Act ensures the continuation of all previously authorized and funded National Park Service projects.
Park Staffing Mandate: NPS Must Be 'Fully Staffed' Within 30 Days, Rehiring Fired Employees Since January 2025
The newly proposed Protect our Parks Act of 2025 is essentially a massive, fast-tracked hiring and continuity mandate for the National Park Service (NPS). The core idea is simple: stop the staffing bleed and make sure the parks stay open and safe. This bill requires the Secretary of the Interior—the boss of the NPS—to ensure the entire National Park System is “fully staffed” within 30 days of the bill becoming law (SEC. 3).
The Great Staffing Push: What 'Fully Staffed' Means
For anyone who’s visited a national park lately and noticed fewer rangers or closed visitor centers, this is aimed right at that problem. The bill directs the Secretary to use existing, set-aside funds to achieve full staffing across the board. The goal is threefold: boost visitor safety, enhance the visitor experience, and protect the natural and cultural resources (SEC. 3). While the bill doesn’t define what metric constitutes “fully staffed”—leaving some wiggle room for interpretation—the immediate mandate is clear: hire, hire, hire, especially for maintenance positions. If you’re a park visitor, this means shorter lines, more open facilities, and potentially more rangers available for assistance and education.
Bringing Back the Experienced Hands
Perhaps the most pointed part of the bill is the immediate rehiring provision. The Secretary must immediately reinstate any NPS employee who was forced out or fired between January 20, 2025, and the date the law is enacted (SEC. 3). Think of this as a rapid attempt to restore institutional knowledge and experience. For the average park user, this means experienced, knowledgeable staff will be back on the job quickly, rather than waiting for lengthy recruiting and training cycles. For those specific former employees, this is an immediate job restoration.
Locking In Infrastructure Projects
Beyond staffing, the bill acts as a failsafe for ongoing park infrastructure. It mandates that the Secretary must continue moving forward with all existing, funded NPS projects that were authorized under major recent legislation, including the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA), the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), and others (SEC. 4). This provision prevents critical maintenance and infrastructure upgrades—like fixing roads, improving trails, or repairing historic structures—from stalling out due to administrative changes. If you’ve ever driven on a crumbling park road or seen a trail closed for repairs, this section is designed to ensure those projects get finished without delay, ultimately improving park access and longevity.