In a move that shocked many across the outdoor and environmental communities, the Trump administration recently initiated sweeping layoffs across key federal land management agencies. According to CBS News reporter Lindsey Reiser and her guest, National Parks Bureau Chief Ashley Harrell, more than 3,400 U.S. Forest Service employees and 1,000 National Park Service workers were abruptly terminated.
The impact is already being felt at some of the nation’s most iconic public lands, including Yosemite, Yellowstone, and the Appalachian Trail. These cuts reportedly affect probationary and recently hired employees, amounting to about 10% of the Forest Service workforce and 5% of the Park Service.
As Ashley Harrell explained in her CBS segment, national parks have long been underfunded and understaffed even during the best of times. Now, at a moment when visitation numbers are booming, the sudden firing of employees who maintain trails, clean restrooms, provide emergency rescues, and educate the public is set to push the parks into what she called “chaos.”
Eric Hanson: This Is No Coincidence
Outdoor YouTuber Eric Hanson, known for his thoughtful hiking and backpacking content, took a rare foray into political commentary to address what he sees as a deliberate campaign to undermine the public land system. In his widely shared video, Hanson argues that these firings are not simply about cutting government bloat. Rather, he says, they’re part of a deeper strategy to erode public trust in federal oversight and hand over public lands to private extractive industries.
Hanson notes that public lands cover 28% of the United States and are managed by a network of federal agencies like the National Park Service, BLM, and U.S. Forest Service. These lands – mostly in the West – support recreation, wildlife conservation, and yes, responsible industry. But, as Hanson warns, “only a small percentage of our public lands are actually protected from mining and development.” The recent firings, he says, remove the very people tasked with ensuring that development doesn’t come at the cost of clean water, safe trails, and biodiversity.
Trump’s “Exploit” Agenda and the Push for Privatization
Eric Hanson points to statements from Trump himself, where the former president used the word “exploit” when referring to public resources – making his intentions clear. In Hanson’s view, Trump’s allies, including figures like Elon Musk, are using libertarian-sounding arguments about efficiency and small government as a cover for deregulating public lands and accelerating their use for logging, mining, and drilling. Hanson frames this as a calculated effort to weaken federal institutions, making it easier to turn over land management to private industry.
In support of this claim, Hanson mentions Trump’s executive order to log 280 million acres of forest – an amount that would require bypassing the Endangered Species Act and other environmental protections. Hanson believes these actions are not about forest health or wildfire prevention, but about short-term profit, even at the expense of long-term public benefit.
Ben Shapiro Calls the Outrage “Absurd”
Not everyone sees a problem. Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro took a sharply different view on the matter in a segment of The Ben Shapiro Show titled “The Left’s Absurd Outrage Over Trump’s National Park Layoffs.” Shapiro argues that the scale of the cuts is exaggerated and the reaction is purely performative. “You’re talking about a thousand employees cut across 428 sites – that’s about two employees per park,” Shapiro said, minimizing the impact.
Shapiro also criticized those who fear national parks will become unusable. “If you are a regular visitor to national parks… the interface you have with employees is minimal,” he noted, suggesting that automatic machines could easily replace humans at park entrances. For Shapiro, the focus on the firings is more about scoring political points than protecting public resources.
Ashley Harrell Paints a Starkly Different Picture
But for Ashley Harrell, who’s reported directly from sites like Yosemite, the situation is already deteriorating. In her interview with CBS, Harrell said visitors should prepare for long wait times, closures, and a generally diminished experience. “We’re looking at a spring and summer where tens of thousands of people are showing up to the park each day, waiting three or four hours to get in, getting stuck in traffic once they’re inside, and possibly not having access to a reservation system,” she warned.
These are not abstract inconveniences – they affect families, elderly visitors, and international tourists who travel thousands of miles to see America’s natural wonders. Harrell’s reporting indicates that infrastructure inside the parks is deteriorating due to the staff shortage, and the parks’ ability to protect delicate ecosystems is faltering.
Search and Rescue: A Silent Casualty
Eric Hanson also raised concerns about safety. Many of those let go were boots-on-the-ground employees like rangers and search-and-rescue personnel. Hanson shared a personal story of a friend whose life was saved by a park ranger. “If that employee had been gone, it would have been a whole other situation to deal with,” he said, underscoring the very real consequences these decisions may have in remote and dangerous environments.
Shapiro dismisses this as dramatics. But the National Parks Conservation Association (as quoted by CBS) warns of real danger: “The permanent staff cuts will leave hundreds of national parks understaffed and facing tough decisions about operating hours, public safety, and resource protection.”
The Hidden Threat of Land Swaps and State Transfers
One of Hanson’s most alarming revelations was about so-called “land swaps.” Using mapping data he showed how states like Utah are poised to trade state-managed land for federally managed land. The motive? To gain access to timber, uranium, and other resources that the federal government might otherwise protect.
These state-managed lands, Hanson says, are run with a legal obligation to maximize profit – not recreation or conservation. In other words, once the land changes hands, its fate could change dramatically.
The Bear Ears Battle: A Microcosm of a Larger Struggle
Much of Hanson’s video was filmed on the edge of Bears Ears National Monument, a place steeped in cultural, ecological, and historical significance. The monument was created through years of collaboration with Indigenous tribes, but Trump reduced its size by 85% during his first term and is reportedly looking to open it again for uranium mining.
“The people who live here are the ones most likely to suffer,” Hanson said, warning that contamination from mining could seep into the Colorado River – affecting millions in the Southwest. The Inner Tribal Coalition, who helped protect Bears Ears, now face the challenge of defending it once again.
Public Lands, Public Good
Hanson made a passionate case that federal management, while imperfect, seeks a balance between development, recreation, and environmental preservation. State or private control, he argues, would prioritize profit over people. “Managing our forests like a private company is not in our best interest,” he said. “These CEOs make decisions based on quarterly profits, not generational responsibility.”
Shapiro’s Efficiency Argument vs. Hanson’s Generational View
Ben Shapiro argues that efficiency should guide policy. Why have a person at a park gate when a machine could do it cheaper? But for Hanson, that viewpoint misses the bigger picture. The issue isn’t just whether someone hands you a parking pass. It’s whether anyone is left to maintain trails, manage wildlife, or educate children about their national heritage. And it’s about whether those decisions are made by people who care about the land—or those looking to make a quick buck.
A Manufactured Crisis?
Hanson accuses Trump and his allies of engineering failure – of cutting staff to make the government seem ineffective, thereby justifying its further dismantling. “They are creating a self-fulfilling prophecy,” he said. “They say the government doesn’t work – and then go in every day trying to make sure it doesn’t.”
It’s a bold accusation, but not an unfounded one, considering the sudden and quiet rollout of the layoffs. Even Ashley Harrell noted that the cuts disrupted seasonal hiring processes that had begun months in advance, adding to the confusion.
What Happens Next?
Whether one agrees with Hanson or Shapiro, one fact is certain: the situation on America’s public lands is changing. As summer approaches and millions prepare to visit national parks, the fallout from these decisions will become more visible. Fewer rangers, longer lines, more trash, and potential environmental degradation may turn political theory into tangible frustration.
As Hanson put it, “Being vocal is step one.” For those who cherish the outdoors, the question now becomes not just where to hike, but how to protect the very land beneath their boots.
A former park ranger and wildlife conservationist, Lisa’s passion for survival started with her deep connection to nature. Raised on a small farm in northern Wisconsin, she learned how to grow her own food, raise livestock, and live off the land. Lisa is our dedicated Second Amendment news writer and also focuses on homesteading, natural remedies, and survival strategies. Lisa aims to help others live more sustainably and prepare for the unexpected.