Recent federal job cuts have led to significant layoffs within the National Park Service, causing major concerns for both employees and visitors. Reports indicate that hundreds of Park Service workers have opted to resign or have been terminated as part of the purges, with over a dozen workers at Lake Mead National Recreation Area among those fired. These layoffs threaten the safety and upkeep of national parks, sparking protests from former rangers and raising alarms about the negative impact on tourism and the recreational industry. Notably, iconic parks such as Yosemite and the Great Smoky Mountains are experiencing reduced services and operating hours, which could diminish the visitor experience. As federal spending cuts take effect, the future of the national parks hangs in the balance, with many voicing worries about the risk to their cherished natural spaces and the jobs that protect them.