National park supporters launch day of protest against Trump administration

Dozens of events are kicking off across the United States in protest of the Trump administration’s historic weakening of protections for national parks. The events — conceived as part of a day of action by the National Parks Conservation Association — coincide with National Park Week, held Aug. 22-30 in honor of the 110th anniversary of the National Park Service on Aug. 25. 

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“Parks are unique and beloved, and during this National Park Week, we want to be rooted in place and together with communities to speak up for them. This Day of Action is an opportunity for all Americans to show that parks bridge differences and close divides,” David Lamfrom, vice president of regional programs at the NPCA, said in a statement emailed to SFGATE. “They are places that inspire us, educate us, and connect us to our history.”

Shortly after taking office in early 2025, President Donald Trump proposed massive funding cuts to federal agencies that oversee public lands, including the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service. At the same time, the Department of Government Efficiency oversaw a mass exodus of up to a quarter of permanent Park Service personnel, the consequences of which continue to be felt in parks today. With fewer staff on hand, backlogs of deferred maintenance have skyrocketed, and many scientific and outreach efforts have been derailed. In addition, a judge recently signed a stay motion allowing Department of the Interior officials to continue reviewing and removing park information that casts U.S. history “in a negative light.”

The Trump administration has also been friendlier toward groups looking to develop public lands for energy production, mineral extraction and mining. Over the past year, the administration has greenlit billions of dollars for construction projects along the U.S.-Mexico border, including 200 miles of patrol roads and detection technology within Big Bend National Park in Texas. In Utah, the boundaries of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments were recently cut by more than 90%, and new mining claims have already been filed on the newly unprotected lands.

Trump is the only president in history to have removed protections for more public lands than he has protected.

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These actions come as recent surveys have found widespread support for public lands and national parks. A 2025 nationwide NPCA survey found that a majority of respondents, regardless of political affiliation, oppose the cuts to park budgets and staff, while a 2026 Conservation in the West poll showed that most residents favor protecting America’s natural resources over maximizing the land available for extraction.

As of Aug. 24, 30 events are planned in support of national parks, spanning 19 states and Washington, D.C. Entrance fees to all 433 national park sites are waived on Aug. 25, and throughout the week, NPCA members will be tabling in several parks, such as Yosemite National Park, Muir Woods National Monument, Rocky Mountain National Park, North Cascades National Park and Glacier National Park. Other events held in partnership with local advocacy groups include documentary screenings, fence building projects, trivia, and kayaking and backpacking outings. 

The NPCA is also asking people to sign a petition urging Trump and DOI Secretary Doug Burgum to recommit to protecting the national park system.