Trump Budget Proposal Could Slash National Park Funding, Threatening Closures at Shenandoah National Park and Beyond

Shenandoah National Park, VA (CNN) — Shenandoah National Park experienced an influx of visitors over Memorial Day weekend, but behind the scenes, park staff and advocates warn that the future of national parks is at risk. Under the Trump administration’s proposed 2026 budget, the National Park Service could see nearly $900 million slashed from its funding, a potential reduction that advocates say could cripple park operations and even force closures.

“Every single day, thousands of people who work for the National Park Service are waking up and wondering if they're going to have a job,” a spokesperson said.

The proposed cuts amount to a possible 75% reduction in funding for the National Park system. Compounding the issue, the House of Representatives recently voted to eliminate all remaining national park funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, stripping away $267 million designated for staffing and operations.

Environmental and legal experts are raising alarm bells. The Southern Environmental Law Center has demanded transparency on how these drastic funding cuts would be implemented and who would be most impacted. The center has already filed lawsuits against the Trump administration, arguing that these actions could violate environmental and administrative laws.

“When an administration makes broad-sweeping changes and pushes them down to their agencies, it's essential that they still play within the rules of the game,” a center representative said. “If the law is broken, we’ll be ready to hold them accountable.”

Shenandoah National Park, a major tourist destination in central Virginia, is vital to the region’s economy. Park supporters say the potential funding cuts would not only threaten natural resources and conservation efforts but also devastate local businesses reliant on park tourism.

As the budget deliberations continue, park advocates and environmental organizations plan to fight to preserve funding for the National Park Service. Their goal: to keep parks open and accessible for future generations.

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