Right now, President Trump is pushing plans to build a giant triumphal arch near the Lincoln Memorial, convert public parkland near the Jefferson Memorial into a championship golf course, and paint over the Reflecting Pool, all without the Congressional approval and public review process that federal law requires.
At the same time, the National Park Service has lost about a quarter of its staff over the past year. Trails are less maintained, visitor centers are understaffed, and educational programs have been cut or eliminated entirely.
The National Mall, known as “America's Front Yard,” is a national park site that belongs to every American, not just people who live in D.C. Congress put clear laws in place to ensure the public has a meaningful voice before anything permanently changes these landscapes. That process is being bypassed entirely.
Sign the petition urging President Trump to protect our national parks.
Dear President Trump,
As someone who cares about our national parks, I am writing to urge you to take three important steps to protect them.
First, restore National Park Service staffing. Park rangers and staff maintain trails, keep visitors safe, and bring America's history to life. These cuts threaten the safety and quality of the experience at parks across the country.
Second, stop construction of costly new projects on the National Mall and other public parklands. The National Park Service already faces a maintenance backlog of billions of dollars. Spending on new construction before addressing deferred maintenance sets the wrong priorities for the parks by not maintaining the roads, bridges, visitor centers, trails and bathrooms that helps millions of Americans visit and enjoy parks throughout the country.
Third, require compliance with existing park protection laws, including the Commemorative Works Act and the National Environmental Policy Act, before any projects move forward. These laws exist to protect the public's interest and ensure the American people have a voice in decisions that permanently alter their parks.
These places belong to every American. I urge you to protect them.
