National Park Service law enforcement staffing continues to plummet, leaving park resources vulnerable and raising questions about visitor safety amid growing park attendance, according to a watchdog group.
Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, in a report released Thursday, says the number of NPS law enforcement rangers and special agents has declined by nearly half since 2010, and has now reached what the group calls a “generational low,” according to data it obtained via the Freedom of Information Act.
And things could get a lot worse, as the House last month approved an Interior-Environment fiscal 2025 spending package that proposes to cut the NPS budget significantly. If those cuts hold, it could result in the loss of 1,000 park staff, including law enforcement, said Jeff Ruch, PEER’s Pacific director.
“The Park Service’s ranger force is in deteriorating condition and getting worse,” Ruch said.
