As the Trump administration aggressively moves to downsize the government, Z107.7FM received news this afternoon that layoffs were underway at the already-understaffed Joshua Tree National Park. On the brink of the park’s busy season, the layoffs were applied to the Fees Division – employees tasked with running the visitor centers, taking fees at the entrance kiosks, collecting campground fees, conducting traffic control and, occasionally, assisting with search and rescue operations.
Thus far, the layoffs affect probationary employees and are part of the plan to shave 1,000 employees from the National Park Service (NPS). Other federal agencies – such as the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the National Institute of Health (NIH) – are also facing layoffs today. Most employees who received the termination notice are tagged as ‘probationary’ meaning they were recent hires or are long-serving employees who were moved or promoted into a new positionS. With the exception of those with military veteran status, these workers have few job protections.
The law enforcement division is not affected but the cuts will have a direct impact on the amount of fees collected with possible losses in the “tens of thousands.” JTNP staff is already running at 50% capacity and sources say the loss will affect not only fee revenue, but the safety of visitors.
