What You Need To Know About Utah’s National Parks Layoffs

Utah’s National Parks just took a big hit after over 1,000 employees were laid off during the Trump Administration cuts.  

The beehive state is a place with several National Parks that people from all over the country and world come to visit. With less staff, the impact on the upcoming busy season remains to be seen.  

According to the Salt Lake Tribune, 17 employees of Utah’s National Parks were laid off this week. A staggering 12 from Zion National Park, three employees from Capitol Reef and two from Bryce Canyon. Arches and Canyonlands weren’t confirmed yet.  

A Senior Visitation Program Manager for the National Parks Conservation Association said the number is closer to 30.  

This layoff mainly impacted those who do park maintenance, trail guides, specialized operations, and those who keep the parks looking pristine, the SLT said.  

The ability for visitors to have a “care-free” experience in clean and well-maintained Utah National Parks could be a thing of the past. Not only is the road to Zion National Park in Springdale, UT under construction but these cuts are now impacting residents' ability to get home.  

KSL News said that the residents of Springdale are worried about the congestion in the town leading to the park with all the federal employee cuts.  

Springdale Mayor Barbara Bruno told KSL News that the federal cuts could result in a worse experience at Zion for visitors with longer lines and more congested traffic on the main road of the town.  

The true result of these federal cuts remains to be seen.