The news is awash with stories about the effects of the White House’s push for “government efficiency.” We simply cannot cover every aspect of how things may or may not shake out in this arena. But we will post the most significant items of interest to readers. Here’s a question you may have wondered about: Did any National Park workers take advantage of the “quit now, get paid until later” deal? The New York Times says they did. Park workers have left early, and park visitors may regret it.
Park workers leave early under “Fork in the Road” offer
More than 700 National Park Service employees have taken Elon Musk’s “Fork in the Road” offer. This, according to an internal service memo. There is concern that this could seriously impact staffing during the busy summer season.
The wave of resignations comes right after the Department of the Interior made the decision to lay off more than 1,000 full-time park employees. The memo, sent earlier this week and seen by The New York Times, says that those 700 employees who accepted the offer will stop working by March 7.
There’s been a lot of concern about these cuts, especially since summer is the peak season for national parks. RVers hoping to visit a park this summer may face the effects. Some parks are already having to cut back on hours, cancel tours, and even close visitor centers, all because of the staffing shortage.
Park Service will hire thousands—but with a twist
These job losses are part of President Trump’s effort to reduce federal employment. But there’s a twist: Interior Secretary Doug Burgum says the Park Service will rehire thousands of workers—but only as temporary, seasonal positions.
“The National Park Service is hiring seasonal workers to help keep the visitor experience strong while also finding new ways to optimize workforce management,” said Elizabeth Peace, a spokesperson for the Interior Department.
The National Parks Conservation Association points out that these temporary positions can’t replace the experienced, full-time workers who are now, or will soon be, gone. Don’t forget that around 2,000 seasonal job offers were rescinded when President Trump imposed his hiring freeze, delaying the process of bringing these workers back.
Greater percentage of park workers leave early than in other agencies
During the summer months, our national parks see up to 325 million visitors. The “Fork in the Road” offer, which was sent to federal employees last month, allows them to resign but still get paid until September. Those who turned it down risked losing their jobs. About 75,000 federal workers have accepted the offer, according to the Office of Personnel Management.
Let’s put it into perspective. As of November 2024, the federal government employed just over 3 million people, making it the nation’s 15th largest workforce. The National Park Service (NPS) employs approximately 20,000 individuals, including permanent, temporary, and seasonal staff. Of the entire federal workforce, about 2.5% took the “Fork in the Road” option. But in the Park Service, more bailed out—3.5% terminating under the offer. Perhaps these were moved to jump out because of the big layoffs they had already seen.
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What a disaster!
Hardly a disaster….stressful for those involved for sure… but give it time Anyone involved in budget cuts… its never easy. I have been part of company cuts before, but from a business perspective I kind of understood… (I didn’t like it… WHY ME!!) but it happens, and there is no easy way to do it… especially in government with so many special interest groups. How about when Google decided in 2023 to cut 13,000 employees (7% of work force)… It definitely hurts.
Good point, John. This is a “my bad” situation. I’m eating the pie chart and will try to come back with a bar graph! Russ
No worries.. I just can’t get away from interpreting charts and graphs!
Me either.
I remember one of my Economics professors putting up a chart of data that just did not jive with known economic mathematical relationships. Our assignment for the next day was to figure out how it was possible. The next day only two of us came back with the correct answer which was…the chart is WRONG! And that was indeed the intent of the lesson…in business and life, don’t believe everything someone tells you or puts on a chart.
It’s been 45+ years and I remember that lesson like it was yesterday! 🙂
😅
Well said John!
A “pie chart” does not work in this example. Based on your statistics 2.5% was the average buy out for all Federal Employees and 3.5% is the percentage for the NPS. But your “pie chart” totals 2.5 +3.5 which equals a “whole pie” of “6” means absolutely nothing in statistical terms. A “bar chart” representing total employees of the feds vs NPS employees and those that took the offer would have given a much better understanding and perspective to your story. But that would show the difference we are talking about is 200 total employees (1% of 20,000 employees) spread over 430 plus National Parks & Monuments, etc.
Thanks, John. “My bad” too, for not catching that. Was too busy looking for misspelled words and didn’t even look at the chart. (Sorry, Russ.) Have a good evening. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Thanks… I guess my business and finance background comes back to haunt me sometimes… 🙂
Thanks, John. I can’t believe I didn’t even look at the chart or I would have noticed that it (literally) didn’t add up. Sheesh! But I see Russ “fixed” (i.e., deleted) it.🤣 We try to be accurate, and appreciate it when astute readers such as you call errors to our attention so we can fix them. Thank you!👍 Have a good night. 😀 –Diane
Your “mistake” ratio is so low and you always correct it. Your “integrity” ratio is A+.
😊Awwww. Thanks, Jesse! I appreciate your very kind words. But I do hate it when I make a mistake or don’t catch something that I should have. (Sometimes I refer to myself as Ms. Persnickety, which is a silly term for detail-oriented, maybe, or other terms which aren’t quite so polite.🤔🤣) Have a good night.🤗 -Diane
Yes “The devil is in the details”. Your best shot is what you always give a “thankless job”.
Thanks again, Jesse. I don’t consider it a thankless job at all, luckily. I truly enjoy what I’m doing. The writers do all of the hard work and I just get to fine-tune it.😊 Have a good night.🤗 –Diane
A+ for sure! 😃
Oh boy! Oh boy! BooBoo! Looks like picnic basket stealing season is gonna be easier this year.
My guess is no one is going to notice.
My guess too.
😅Yep!
I bet than the go to collect later the pay will not be there
Of course it will not be, that’s how tdump works.
Of course Musk reneged on his buyout deals with Twitter employees. He’s got no proven track record
No proven track record? Well……
1. Paypal. Sold it.
2. Tesla. Publicly traded.
3. SpaceEx. Privately owned.
4. Starlink. Privately owned.
5. Boring Company. Privately owned.
6. Neurolink. Privately owned
7. Twitter/X. – Privately owned. Not a Gov’t organization, Giles.
Just saying, It seems like a track record of success IMHO.
I feel like we are all blessed to have the #1, most consequencetial entrepreneur of the 21st century DONATING his skills, his insight and his genius engineers, for free, to perform an outside audit top to bottom and help to balance our budget filled with a trillion dollars of fraud and waste. IMHO.
I agree, Cancel.
In the very large global corporation I spent nearly 40 years at, we had annual purges averaging 5%. In the early 90’s, spilling red ink, the board brought in Lou Gerstner and our global workforce literally went from over 400k to just over 200k in short order. The result? The company was re-energized, focused on what mattered, grew 100% in revenue, and became highly profitable.
Now, gov’t isn’t about profit, but these cuts are minimal. Good managers and employees need to take the challenge, innovate, and thrive.
For free? He paid $280M to dismantle our government. Keep drinking the orange kool aid.
Definitely not free. Charging millions in expenses to run “efficiency” program. Funneling more money to his organizations. The charitable org is fraudulent. All while the president spends OUR tens of millions tax $$ to attend events pretending he cares about government efficiency. Actions speak louder.
True that
Please share the evidence you have of charging millions in expenses and the funneling of money into his organizations.
As you said, actions speak louder than words and unless you have evidence of your accusations having merit,…… you’re just spouting propogandist words and need help. Call 1-800-TDS-CURE
Yeah Dave…evidence please!
”Call 1-800-TDS-CURE” 😂
🤣😂🤣😂 TDS Help Hotline…. hahaha
🤣
Still no track record.
If only the left had a Musk or a Rogan or a Tulsi or an RFK …… oh wait, you did….they’re names were….. Musk and Rogan and Tulsi and RFK.
So you see Ron, the party of diversity is the R’s, not the D’s unless you really want a Cheney as your voice for war. This administration even has 2 former D presidential candidates in the cabinet. That is how you win….. you make the tent bigger not smaller by catering to the pragmatic 80% because 80% want less waste, theft and fraud. Populism.
Lesson complete, see you next time. 🤓
Yeah that! Well said Kinder!
😂
Whoa! I’ve heard it all now.
What did I get wrong, exactly. I’ll be waiting…… 🎼🎵🎶🎼🎵🎙🎼🎵
Ahhhh, got nothin huh? No objective facts to offer? Sooo funny that no one can offer an objective argument, just random words and platitudes, completely void of any factual details. Keep on cheering for a continuation of the waste and fraud. No, what I really mean is…. PLEASE KEEP CHEERING FOR WASTE AND FRAUD. That is a winning strategy, please don’t stop.
OMG this hair on fire crowd is funny. 🤣😂😅😂🤣😅
I’ve had more laughs on this thread than any ever! Kinder, your words are searing with wisdom…never stop! 😃🇺🇸
Oh good! There is always something to learn! 😅
Well said Kinder!
True that
😂
Over 960 National Parks, Wildlife Refuges, Memorials etc. That is less than 1 employee per.
Good deal, maybe? Bad deal, maybe? I doubt we will feel a difference.
Very little real info to base an opinion on. But that doesn’t stop the opinions.
The current administration does not care about the quality of the NP” experience” for regular people. They only care about their “experience” at high priced “private” venues. No staff cuts there.
100%. It’s the biggest gaslighting initiative in history. Funnel even more to the uber-rich (not even the rich). All while being wagged by russia in front of our faces. They won’t stop until everyone stands up.
Alleged – ah, so you have been listening to your “The sky is falling” congress member, eh. Maybe you should ask him how we are going to pay their (the left) continued spending when the top 1% already pay 46% of the income tax. Possibly the bottom 42% that pay NOTHING????
I live in a purple area and have no sky is falling congress person. No left or right news influences me. Just right & wrong based on what everyone can observe. The way the current admin speaks is just wrong. Right and left and center congress people need to stand up to this ridiculousness
Bullseye!! TRUTH 🇺🇸
😂…in case you didn’t notice…the MAJORITY did stand up! 😃🇺🇸
That is their plan, run everything in the ground, which has he has repeatedly done, and then hand it over to the highest campaign contributor. Talk about corruption and waste.
Validated source please.
Yeah Ron…we’re waiting
😂
Thank you for sharing the news, Russ and Tina! I guess we’ll find out how things shake-out when we get to Alaska. We only plan on visiting Canadian national parks en-route there. Meanwhile, have a great day and safe travels!
It’s not “just” the 700 that took the alleged buyout (I say alleged because there is no guarantee they will receive that pay because Congress has not authorized it). ““The National Park Service is in crisis and things are only getting worse. In a matter of weeks, 9 percent of Park Service staff have been lost to mass firings and resignations. And this is on top of hundreds of vacant positions that can’t be filled due to the ongoing hiring freeze. ” https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2025/02/more-700-national-park-service-staff-quitting
Their pay has already been approved by Congress. If not, they’d be working for free like what happens every time the debt ceiling is reached.
As for being short handed, go talk to some of them.
Those with a pulse and two neurons will tell you they’re frustrated with the poor work ethics of many of their teammates. Those that do the most are tasked to do more while those doing the least can do less.
But don’t take my word for it, go speak to them instead of about them.
You’ll learn the bureaucracy to get a roll of toilet paper for the vault toilet is demoralizing, inept and stifling. The NPS is just as efficient as the DMV….
Unfortunately, it probably wasn’t the bad employees leaving, they seem to have well developed survival skills while the good employees who know they can get good jobs outside leave at the “last straw” incentive.
Just shows the incompetence.
Alleged – ah, so you have been listening to your “The sky is falling” congress member, eh. Maybe you should ask him how we are going to pay their (the left) continued spending when the top 1% already pay 46% of the income tax. Possibly the bottom 42% that pay NOTHING????
Bullseye!!!
We will be visiting 3 National parks in the next few months. I very much doubt that we will notice any difference.
Good to see some downsizing of Federal government. This waste has gone on too long.
Start with tdumps golf costs
I personally applaud the reining-in of government expenditures. I would love to see the cuts get to the point where we can actually start paying down our tremendous debt levels. Maybe someday soon we will even be able to exempt Social Security from income taxation.
I was a government employee once (1980-1986, USN). I have seen the waste, fraud and abuse from within. There’s plenty of room for efficiency, if we try.
Let’s start at the top with vp tdumps golf cost since taking office. It is more than president muskrat will say in 4 years
Exactly.
Link please but it has to be a creditable source. I want to see the facts about this claim. Oh, and please compare to Obozo’s golf cost, adjusted for Biden’s inflection of course!!
I used to audit the government (local, not Federal) and it was sad what I saw.
I’m surprised by the ‘rush for the door’ by these so-called dedicated park workers. Maybe they don’t love the job as much as we’re led to believe.
There are multiple reasons why a person would take the offer. Harassment by president muskrat is a big one.
I have run into some very grumpy parks employees in the past even though the Dems held the highest office. Read “Elephants can Dance”, the turning around of IBM when they were on the edge of financial collapse. ALL governments say “yes sir” to the banksters. You can take some discomfort now or are forced to take a lot when the unpatriotic world financer’s call the shots. It’s debt that will bring the country to its knees.
Before any of you scream “The sky is falling”, about layoff at the National Parks and how you believe (you really don’t know) it will impact you, find out FIRST who actually is running the Park.
Someone on another board, the Mt Rainier National Park, lost their one and only plumber due to the cuts. First, I thought it was rather strange they had a plumber and didn’t contract that out when needed. So, I did some digging and found out everything is contracted out to a concessionaire, lodges, campgrounds, all maintenance (including plumbing), etc. So, what exactly do all the Park employees do?????
Somebody has to specify, select, manage, inspect, and pay all those contractors. It helps if at least some of the contract managers have some knowledge of what the contractors are doing.
So, what, a 100+ park rangers to do that at each park? Besides, the specifying, selecting it done way above the Park Ranger level. And what does the concessionaire get out of it, 9% of the revenue, while the Federal Government gets 91%.
I have stayed in National Forest campgrounds ran by concessionaire, and range by the Forest Service. The campgrounds ran by the concessionaires were by far maintained better!
Yes…but.
The large international I worked for had one of the largest global supply chains in the world. Other companies hired us to manage their supply chains (that was not our primary business) because of how well we did our own. We cut headcount EVERY year. Our staff and management needed to innovate, consolidate, and provide better service to our internal as well as external clients year after year.
The problem with Government is that it wants to continually consume more resources every year instead of figuring out how to do more with less.
This is why Musk is perfect for the job he has been given. He did the same thing with Twitter…now X…and it hasn’t skipped a beat…only gotten better.
Many of the comments may support getting rid of government employees. But eventually it will affect these same people . Then we’ll see how they like it. Our government employees are doing their job. It’s the politicians on both parties that have set up and allow government waste in order to get reelected. Plus it’s upper management allowing it. We are not making America Great by allowing Trump and Musk to do what they are doing and it will eventually affect the commenters. They are hurting a lot of veterans who fought for our country and allow your negative comments. Plus many government jobs support our military’s ensuring they have what they need to keep us safe.
Debt and the continued weakening of the dollar (inflation) is a far bigger threat than most understand. You can feel it but few understand the cause. It affects everyone and everything. Regardless of your political views. Those who perpetuate the destruction of a nation’s currency are the biggest threat to the people.
I like your comment. Quite pragmatic in message.
I would simply say that with the $400 billion of waste and theft found so far, we could have bought a house for every single homeless vet in America…., oceanfront. Instead USAID pays for a climate relation study and it’s affects on Trans women in Afghanistan.
Gotta cut out the waste like a tumor. Go a little too far and get good margins…. we can always grow back the beaurocracy a little if needed.
What I find most depressing is the callousness, indeed the glee here at the harm, vindictiveness and stress being imposed on those who serve us, many who have served us well for many years.
Of course there are opportunities to become more efficient or better align personnel, needs and resources. But that’s not what’s happening here. Whats happening is mass firings with no consideration of experience, qualifications or performance.
So go ahead. Have a party celebrating that that park ranger that went above and beyond for you lost their livelihood, that person with years of knowledge and experience is gone because some 19 year-old programmer deemed them non-essential.
Feel better?
Yes, I kind of do feel better but then I prefer to save the country from bankruptcy. I also prefer living in a democracy, not in a beaurocracy. Cut 25% deeper than needed and hire back if needed. The cream will rise to the top and the Fed employees that are working hard, showing up and taking pride in the results of an honest days work will get promotions. If someone can’t tell you 5 things they accomplished in a week for $140k per year including benefits, maybe…. just maybe they need to find a new job in the private sector.
But, that’s just me. I do feel better, thanks for asking.
Majority of government employees don’t make $140k with benefits. Government employees pay part of their health insurance, life insurance and retirement. Their salary isn’t the same throughout the US.
I should have clarified that it is $104k federal job average inside DC Beltway, plus benefits. The latest benefit is work from your 2nd full-time job checking in once per 30 days at your Fed job. Grift and graft.
If you want to make a significant reduction in the Federal budget, you can’t do it with a scalpel, it will take an ax – or a chain saw. Nevertheless, Musk’s approach is throwing the baby out with the bathwater. The Federal Government spends probably 100 times as much through contracts as with its own employees, and there is more waste there than anywhere else.
The military installation I worked at had a splurge in workload. They hired a contractor who brought in blue collar workers to work doing the same job government workers were doing. Paying the contractors working alongside the government worker more money than the government workers. Plus paying the contractor for each person he brought in.
Ah, but those contractual workers generally do not have near the benefits of the Gov worked, plus when the job is over, most go home, unlike the gov worker who has the job security. This is specially true for union workers who go home, sign “the book,’ and wait for the next job, when ever that is.
This is an atrocity!!! We are in the grips of evil..evil..evil. Our National Parks are in danger. As is our Democracy.
I have been working on that very nifty rhyming chant with an anti Musk theme all week Mia. Which Park Entrance are we going to meet at for our sing along, Mia? We can do a sixties style “Sit In”, chain ourselves to trees, wave some signs with nifty messages and take turns with the bull horn for the chant. Here is what i came up with.
Hey hey, ho ho, Elon Musk has got to go. Pretty good huh? I think it should do the trick and we can bring all those oppressed Park employees some joy. I mean, If we don’t hold a march for continuing the waste, who will? Everyone out there that wants to join us, let me know and we do a potluck.
I don’t think our Democracy is in danger, but our Bureaucracy certainly is…LOL
With all due respect, Mia, our “Democracy” is not in danger. The vote was counted, and President Trump won. He was very open about the things he was going to do.
Just a side note that we are a Republic, a Democratic Republic. We are not a Democracy as so many people erroneously call our form of government. If you are unsure of the difference, it’s easy to Google them.
” our “Democracy” is not in danger.” is just more “The sky is fall” gibberish from the left because, heaven forbid, they lost and didn’t get a participation award. The Left knows they can spew that type of hype as 90% of their follower can’t actually think for themselves.
😂…There is no way any sane person who has done any research on their own…or at the very least lived through the last 4 years…would believe this. If this is something you truly believe Mia…I am very sad for you…I truly am…as you must live a very tormented life. ☹️
It’s been a month and people are having a meltdown. The park service has had issues for YEARS. I have personally seen more lazy than hard working. We must trim the fat!
The issue is many of the new hires believe the work their supervisors want them to do is beneath them. My wife retired from the Core of Engineers, and she said she could see it. Mainly from new hires who have stayed in school to get their Master’s or PhD. The job they got hired into (fishery related) including some maintenance work during the low times, in addition to the main duties. You know, like painting, weeding and cleaning around the facilities, etc. But no, these over educated entry level employees felt that work was beneath them, and they would rather just sit around doing nothing, complain, or sleep (no cell service where they were, so no social media – LOL).
I think what we are seeing is “tribalism”. Over 90% of USAID spending was going to left wing friends and causes.
The squealing is at a fever pitch.
Who Moved My Cheese?
Everybody just calm down…the federal government is simply re-organizing, like chapter 11. If anyone thinks our nation can go on with 36 TRILLION DOLLAR in DEBT, you really need to do some research on how this will destroy our country, and what will happen to you and your family. Slavery is alive and well in this world. Think before whining. Please!
Sounds great until it affects you, and guess who will be the first to bellyache when it does.
How? And Who?
We don’t want politics here, but it’s obvious that some didn’t hear what we with brains were forecasting would happen if you chose you-know-who…And it is just starting….
I’m sitting here planning on what may be my last trip because both my rig’s and my life’s ages….Dog-nag-it….
I guess we will see….U.S.Army 1968-1971…..Take Care You -all!
Did I ever thank you for your service, David? Thank you!! Yep, getting old stinks, but it’s still better than the alternative.🤔 (I tell my acquaintances at the track I walk at daily that, at 78, if I’m vertical and moving, I’m happy.👍🤣) I hope you have more trips than just one in your future. Have a good night.🤗 –Diane aka Mountain Mama wannabe, especially on a beautiful day like today!
Look at the bright side, only 202.3 weeks left to go.
I enlisted in ‘68 too.
Thank you for your service, Larry! Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Life is what YOU make it…smile and the world smiles back…😃
My desire to slim down the federal government didn’t include a heartless meat cleaver approach and dancing on a stage with a chainsaw. I’ve fired people but I never celebrated it.
I don’t think people are celebrating the firings, per se, but the savings on wages.
After so many years of being taxed to death for foolish government initiatives, We the People have had enough.
We’re celebrating the end of career politician tyranny. Free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty I’m free at last!
Well said! 😃🇺🇸
Are your National Parks, forests and other public lands foolish? You think selling them off and limiting them to only a few is a good idea? I think you need to recalculate your thinking. Our parks were our greatest idea.
This is a hot topic across the RV Lifestyle universe. There’s a lot of “not-in-my-backyard” sentiment. IMHO, I’m all for trimming the fat off of the federal work force. I can only chuckle when I read or hear comments on the reduction that All these workers being cut were needed in the first place. It’s about time somebody that’s not a blue blood politician has the b…s to take on the Herculean task of Fed Fat Trimming.