Dear Friend,

Our national parks are facing significant challenges—from staffing cuts to shifting federal policy directives that threaten clean air, water, and protect American history. Yet, considering these challenges, we know that protecting national parks is an issue where there is widespread agreement regardless of political affiliation. We are closely tracking the impacts to national parks in the Mid-Atlantic, and I ask that you join us in taking a stand in helping us defend them.

If you are receiving this email, you likely share our love for national parks and now is a critical time to become more engaged, take action, and chip in to protect the places we love.

Lost Jobs and Broken Hearts—Mid-Atlantic National Parks at a Crossroads
This month, more than 1,000 National Park Service employees were terminated by the Trump administration, including dozens of critical positions across almost every national park in the Mid-Atlantic. Staff shortfalls, as well as the administration’s hiring freeze, buyout offers and rescinded job offers in recent weeks, are expected to leave parks understaffed, facing tough decisions about operating hours, public safety and resource protection just as visitors are planning their spring break and summer vacations to national parks.

It also means severe consequences for parks in our region: loss of wildlife and resource protection, uncleaned bathrooms, lack of park rangers for educational programs and field trips, and fewer staff to keep visitors safe or conduct historical research. Read the personal stories and impacts and take action to protect our National Park Service staff.

NPCA Launches Park Protection Fund
To navigate these challenges parks are facing and to ensure we’re prepared to act when opportunities arise, NPCA has launched the Park Protection Fund. We are seeking $15 million in new investments to support existing and potential new legal cases, advocacy efforts at the federal, state and local level, and public awareness campaigns to engage park supporters around the country. Learn more or donate to help protect our parks.

Young Advocates Head to Washington
In February, our Mid-Atlantic and Northeast Young Leaders Councils—hailing from Maine to West Virginia—headed to Washington for a day of action on Capitol Hill. For many young advocates, this was their first time meeting with members of Congress, and they were also able to visit historic Ford’s Theatre and meet with Park Rangers working with the National Mall and Memorial Parks. We are thankful for these advocates for sharing their love of our National Parks with Congress, as well as carrying an important message about the importance of funding our parks and protecting park staff.

Legal Action Taken to Protect Wilderness Battlefield
Wilderness Battlefield has so many lessons left to teach us. But those lessons are about war, loss, and reconciliation, not data centers. To help protect this battlefield, a unit of Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park, from intense industrial development, we filed a joint amicus brief with the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks to support American Battlefield Trust’s legal opposition to the Wilderness Crossing development's rushed and flawed review process.

Positive Momentum on our Park Priorities in Virginia
Saturday, January 22 marked the end of the 2025 Legislative Session in Virginia. This year, NPCA was more active than ever supporting policies that would protect national park landscapes and wildlife. With your help, we successfully advocated for two bills that would reform Virginia’s data center industry, protecting parks, our environment, and everyday Virginians from the growing impacts of the industry. We also successfully advocated for legislation which will require the labeling of invasive species, protecting parks from the continued spread of these harmful plants. Lastly, we secured $450,000 in Virginia’s budget for important wildlife crossing work around the Commonwealth. We are now urging Governor Youngkin to sign these important pieces of legislation into law.

📖 What we’re reading this month:

• "Vox" examined the staffing crisis facing national parks both before and after recent layoffs.

• "Evening Sun" highlighted the impact of recent layoffs on Gettysburg National Military Park and other historic sites in Pennsylvania.

• Stumpy’s Last Stand: NPCA’s “National Parks” magazine profiled Stumpy, the beloved Tidal Basin cherry tree at the National Mall in Washington, DC.

• "Henrico Citizen“ covered data center legislation being considered by the Virginia state lawmakers that would increase protections for national parks.

Meet us in the national parks. In the coming months you’ll find us at events or parks around the region. Join us in advocating for our national parks, public lands, wildlife and clean water at the West Virginia State Capitol in Charleston, WV on Tourism Day at the Legislature on March 12 and Environmental Day on March 17. Or find us at the Trout Unlimited Show event at Valley Forge on March 22nd, and the Earth Day event at Delaware Water Gap on April 26th.

You are also invited to join us in Washington, DC on April 9 for our annual Salute to the Parks, one of the largest and most influential gatherings of the national park community, celebrating these incredible places and all who speak up on their behalf.

You can always learn more about the Mid-Atlantic parks on our webpage, attend an upcoming NPCA event or take action to protect parks.

Thank you for being an advocate for your national parks!

Sincerely,

Michaela Pavlat
Indigenous Partnerships Program Manager