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NPS Cuts Staff 25%, Drops Yosemite Reservations for 2026

7/5/2026

Center

NPS Cuts Reservations

National Park Service permanent staffing fell 25% since January 2025, prompting several major parks to drop timed-entry reservations for 2026.
The agency announced it will manage access park-by-park with traffic monitoring and parking management instead of season-long reservations.
Reduced staff and looser crowd-control rules caused long lines and full parking lots at Yosemite.
Advocacy groups urge travelers to check park policies, arrive early or mid-week, and expect waits.

Right

Senators Slam NPS

Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff wrote accusing the National Park Service of gridlock and lawlessness after ending Yosemite reservations.
The National Park Service eliminated timed-entry reservations for Yosemite in the 2026 season without scientific justification or stakeholder engagement.
Padilla and Schiff say cuts forced staff to direct traffic instead of managing wildfire risk.
Senators demanded the park release rule-change data and restore bookings if the summer proves disastrous.

History

Historical Context

February 2025 the National Park Service laid off more than 1,000 probationary rangers and, after the October shutdown, furloughed about 9,200 employees—roughly two-thirds of its workforce. This sharp contraction follows decades of budget shortfalls, such as the 2019 $4.085 billion allocation and the 2020 Great American Outdoors Act, and raises fears that Yosemite will again face severe traffic jams and safety risks.

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NPS Cuts Reservations

National Park Service permanent staffing fell 25% since January 2025, prompting several major parks to drop timed-entry reservations for 2026.
The agency announced it will manage access park-by-park with traffic monitoring and parking management instead of season-long reservations.
Reduced staff and looser crowd-control rules caused long lines and full parking lots at Yosemite.
Advocacy groups urge travelers to check park policies, arrive early or mid-week, and expect waits.

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