WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Trump administration has blocked over 130 planned national park projects nationwide, freezing $25 million in funding. The decision comes despite an ambitious, nearly half-billion-dollar revitalization effort recently launched by the National Park Service (NPS) alongside major philanthropic partners, including the Trust for the National Mall and the National Park Foundation.
Interior Department Blocks Park Projects Nationwide According to a report by The Washington Post, the Department of the Interior—which oversees the NPS—”disapproved” agreements last month for projects at Yellowstone, Yosemite, Zion, Joshua Tree, and several other national parks.
Because the NPS often relies on outside organizations for specialized expertise and supplemental labor rather than hiring additional federal staff, these partnerships are critical to park operations. The withheld funds stem from congressional appropriations and existing federal programs, both of which require Interior Department approval prior to release.
Administration Rejects Agreements over “American Interests” Interior Department spokesperson Aubrie Spady confirmed the decision to The Washington Post, stating the government rejected agreements with groups described as “actively working against the best interests of the American people and the priorities of this administration.”
“This decisive action ensures that taxpayer dollars align with the administration’s objectives to make life more affordable for Americans, unleash domestic energy production, and expand access to our public lands,” Spady said.
California’s Joshua Tree National Park was hit hardest, with roughly 10 projects canceled. These included critical wildfire preparation, burned-area restoration, and the removal of hantavirus-carrying rodents from historic buildings.
Funding Cuts Raise Wildfire and Staffing Concerns Internal documents warn that losing this funding will make fire suppression significantly harder and more expensive.
“If this work is not completed, the park will be unable to fight wildfire. Fires will be larger, and fire suppression will be more expensive,” internal documents noted.
The funding freeze arrives amid severe staffing shortages. The Park Service has lost roughly a quarter of its workforce since President Donald Trump returned to office last year as part of a broader push to shrink the federal government. The administration has suspended at least 10 key partnerships, preventing the hire of at least 16 personnel.
Partner Organizations Left in the Dark The Great Basin Institute, a conservation nonprofit that partners with federal land agencies, had over 70 agreements worth at least $12 million rejected.
Peter Woodruff, the group’s CEO, told The Washington Post that the Interior Department provided no direct notification or explanation for the cancellations. Park Service employees similarly reported receiving little guidance beyond a automated status update: “Disapproved by Department of Interior.”