You are here

How Will A Trump Administration Treat The National Park System?

Share

With both visitation and pride in the national parks up this year thanks to the National Park Service's centennial, how the incoming Trump administration will view the parks and other federal lands is drawing attention, and some concern, from onlookers in the parks community.

After all, President-elect Donald Trump is a businessman who takes pride in his own edifices and is not known for admiring scenery in the National Park System. He has no deep political background to draw upon in forming his administration, instead relying on New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who is running his transition team, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former U.S. Rep. Newt Gingrich, R-Georgia, and his children for guidance.

Rumors abounded Wednesday about whom Trump might choose for Interior secretary, with speculation ranging from Forrest Lucas, the 74-year-old co-founder of Lucas Oil, to former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and outgoing U.S. Rep. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyoming. There also was concern among National Park Service employees that a hiring freeze is coming in the near future.

While it is, of course, too soon to draw any firm conclusions, some of those contacted for this story expressed concern that the federal government's work in the climate change arena will suffer, that little priority will be given to attracting a broader, more diverse visitation to the National Park System, and that it's unlikely President-elect Trump would use the Antiquities Act to create national monuments.

"It (the Antiquities Act) could be a way for him to show his authority. On the other hand, he may push for abolition of the Antiquities Act," said Richard West Sellars, who spent his Park Service career as a historian and wrote the highly acclaimed Preserving Nature in the National Parks, A History. "References to Republican Teddy Roosevelt’s use of the Act — and his promotion of preservation in general — may help. I should mention that Nixon signed several environmental acts, apparently because he thought it would help his career and his standing with the public."

Some see the incoming president's background as a businessman as potentially beneficial to the parks.

"Donald Trump understands tourism and leisure expenditures. He will understand that federal lands and waters can and should be better economic engines," responded Derrick Crandall, president of the American Recreation Coalition, when contacted by the Traveler.

At the same time, seeing economic value in the parks could be a double-edged sword.

"I think it’s certain now that a non-careerist will be appointed as director of the NPS (that probably would have been likely even under Hillary Clinton) and that could have a significant effect on internal policy and direction," said Bill Wade, a member of the Coalition to Protect America's National Parks whose 30-year NPS career saw him honored with the Department of the Interior's Meritorious Service Award. "I think we can expect another 'assault' on the NPS Management Policies with the intent of reducing protection (preservation) and increasing recreation and exploitive uses — at least up to the point that there is enough public reaction to brunt this assault (as happened under Gale Norton/Fran Mainella)."

Mr. Wade was referring to the attempt under the administration of George W. Bush a decade ago to rewrite the Management Policies in such a way as to open the National Park System to more activities. The draft rewrite was seen by many as a direct threat to the National Park Service's preservation mandate as outlined in the Organic Act that created the agency a century ago. In the end, the draft was tossed out and replaced with an update that underscored that mandate.

"This is a significant victory for Americans who care deeply about their national parks and want them preserved for their children and grandchildren and not, as some have been advocating, turned into drivers for the economic gain of a few and opened up for rampant motorized recreational uses," Mr. Wade said back in 2006 when the draft was tossed. "We commend the National Park Service career professionals for standing up to the pressure and defeating the earlier drafts foisted on the NPS by political operatives in the Department of the Interior."

At the National Parks Conservation Association, Vice President of Government Affairs Kristen Brengel expressed hope that the Republican and the new Congress would see great value in the national parks and work to improve their budget.

"National parks represent who we are as a nation, from iconic landscapes to important history and culture. And we must all come together to ensure they are protected, just as we’ve done for the last century. That means tackling head-on the many challenges that currently face our parks," she said. "Places like Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, and Ellis Island are in desperate need of repairs, and we implore the House and Senate to work together in the coming weeks to better fund them in the next spending bill, to pass the Centennial Challenge legislation that benefits parks, and ensure important pieces of our nation’s history like Ocmulgee and Petersburg are protected.

"The president-elect has spoken often about the need to invest in our nation’s infrastructure. With $12 billion in needed repairs, our national parks are a perfect place to focus these efforts," she added. "For too long, our national parks have been subject to efforts by officials to weaken or eliminate the very protections our parks depend on. It is critical for them to resist these pressures. We cannot betray one of the very things that unites America: our national parks.”

Dr. Sellars made passing reference to the Republican's vanity in discussing how he might want the parks managed.

"I have not heard anything about the Park Service or the parks from Trump or his organization. This suggests that they don’t have a lot of interest," said the historian. "But I would guess that Trump wants to leave a legacy, and the parks could be part (a popular part) of it. The legacy factor may be the NPS’s best card to play."

During the presidential campaign, the national parks never received more than passing mention. However, both Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Trump were on record as opposing the sale or transfer of federal lands (an issue restricted to U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Bureau of Land Management lands, not the National Park System). Additionally, according to a National Geographic article, Mr. Trump in January 2016 told an interviewer "that he would not reduce the percentage of the federal budget dedicated to maintaining public lands."

Dwight Pitcaithley, who was chief historian for the Park Service for a decade and now teaches at New Mexico State University, also expressed concern about the new administration looking at the parks as economic engines and managed as such.

"As far as I know, Trump doesn't have any thoughts on parks. That said, it would seem in keeping with his proclivities that he would want them to make as much money as they can and be rated on that standard," said Dr. Pitcaithley. "I think it is safe to say that we really don't have a clue about what he might do except for his comments on climate change being a hoax. I don't know that he has made any comments about public lands of any kind.

"Whatever he thinks, I think the outlook for the NPS over the next four years is quite dim."

Comments

Get ready to hunker down, Lee.

 

 


Rick - I don't have a clue what your last post was about.  If I don't like someone, I know why and can articulate it.  I don't know why you can't do the same unless your animosity has no basis other than the letter after his name.  


All you need is do to establish your FACT is to prove conclusively that a) CO2 is the principal driver of global temperature, b) that manmade CO2 is the principal driver of global CO2, c) that the rise in CO2 and thus temperature is outside of natural variation and that d) this trend will continue to the point of a catastrophic result.  Exactly NONE of these are scientifically proven and will not be until at least 2100, EVEN IF the climate models are correct, which they are not.


Sure. Glad to hear you're always rational and have no unwanted eotions afffecting you. That's what I'd always suspected oif you. G'nite now. Sleep cozy.


Where are the "Kenneth Starr's Proteges" investigating Donald Trump's businesses and all the potential Conflicts of Interests.  Are Secret Service Agents and other Federal Employees staying at Trump Hotels on the taxpayer's Dime ?
 
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1998-10-01/news/9810010041_1_kenneth-...
 

"Turning the business over to his kids will free up his time but it does nothing to resolve conflicts of interest," said Kenneth Gross, a political-law expert and ethics expert at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, who has advised many presidents.

"A creator of a blind trust is tagged with the knowledge of the assets put into the trust, and in terms of conflicts his children's interests are co-extensive with his self interest."

http://www.cnbc.com/2016/11/10/the-future-of-donald-trumps-businesses.ht...
 
Where are the Investigations by The IRS into the Loopholes Trump claims to avoid paying significant Taxes while the same IRS "Tortures" small businesses for a minute fraction of the Taxes the IRS should have collected from Trump. 
 
Put Trump in Jail  for adding to America's National Debt and Not Paying Real Estate Taxes which support NYCity Firefighters and Police among other NYCity public Costs.  Investigate the Trump Children's Taxesto confirm they too are illegally not paying Taxes. The estimated $20 TRILLION DOLLAR cumulative Tax DEBT of America is on the backs of America's children and thereare new Estimates that TRUMP will add significantly to that $20 TRILLION milestone while boasting that He, The Donald,  is the KING of Debt.
 
http://www.forbes.com/sites/beltway/2016/10/11/trump-tax-plan-would-add-...
 
https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/trumps-use-of-debts-and-ta...


m13 - Trumpt has been audited repeatedly.  Actually constantantly may be a better term.  There has been no indicattion that the IRS has ever determined he has done anything illegal.  What you call a "loophole" is the way the tax code is written. Don't like the code? Then get it changed but don't blame people for following it.   There is nothing illegal,immoral or unethical about following the tax code.  

Where do you get that he doesn't pay property taxes?  Here is an article that says just the opposite.

http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20161006/REAL_ESTATE/161009921/dona...


Wolf Robe, Cree Indian Chief in 1909……Only when the last tree has died and the last river been poisoned and the last fish been caught will we realize that we cannot eat money.



Add comment

CAPTCHA

This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.

The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.