The U.S. national park system has been at the heart of controversy throughout 2025, as staffing cuts have led to permanent changes in the day-to-day operations of most national park sites.

Now that the U.S. Department of the Interior has unveiled its plan to cut hundreds more jobs across the National Park Service (NPS), renewed focus is being placed on leadership comments regarding the national park system and its more than 400 sites.

Of particular concern is a statement made by Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. After delivering prepared statements to Congress on May 21, 2025 , Secretary Burgum engaged in a Q&A period with U.S. senators. During the back and forth, Burgum was asked about budget cuts to the National Park System and how those proposed cuts would be made. He replied

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