Amidst a backdrop of recent federal layoffs, Grand Canyon National Park stands as a focal point for both former employees and supporters rallying against job terminations. The protests are strategically held on busy weekends to highlight the essential link between public lands and the people who manage them.
Approximately 60 demonstrators line the pathways from the parking lot to the South Rim, drawing the attention of visitors.
Jim Landahl, once a biological science technician involved in the $200 million Transcanyon Waterline project, has been instrumental in organizing these rallies since losing his job on Valentine’s Day. “We’re here, we’re members of the community and we have voices and we work hard to keep their parks running,” Landahl states.
Landahl’s partner, Lynda Jones, also lost her job two days after his termination. She worked at Glen Canyon Recreation Area, 130 miles away. Expressing her frustration, Jones says, “Working in rural, remote places, you really have to have a deep-rooted community and to have that uprooted in an instant for ‘poor performance,’ through an email — not even having the guts to tell us in person was just — I can’t put it into words.”
Jones was six months into her full-time role when the administration mandated the dismissal of probationary employees. She noted the challenge of that day, stating, “I gave safety programs, I worked with our safety program manager so that way, our employees were safe when they were working out in the field.”
Now, Jones and Landahl face uncertainty about their living situation in Grand Canyon Village, with their housing tied to Landahl’s job. “We definitely have 30 days. They might extend it to 60 days, which would be the hope,” Landahl says. “I need to have a job by that time, so I can’t just sit unemployed for 60 days. That’s not feasible for me.”
The Park Service has yet to comment on the protests. While the administration claims the layoffs will enhance government efficiency, critics argue they have only disrupted agencies without clear cost reductions. Local officials report at least 10 individuals at Grand Canyon were among those let go in a nationwide reduction affecting around 1,000 national park staff since February 14.
Bill Wade, executive director of the Association of National Park Rangers and former superintendent of Shenandoah National Park, expressed his concern: “I’ve never seen anything at all like what has happened. It’s just kind of a heartless, cruel way to treat employees in any organization, it seems to me.”
Staffing implications
Wade highlights that parks are already facing staffing shortages, with a 15% decrease in full-time employees over the past decade. He worries the current situation won’t attract newcomers to the field, impacting future leadership within the Park Service. Although plans are in place to hire over 7,000 temporary staff for the summer, Wade questions the feasibility of onboarding them in time for peak tourist season, potentially straining existing resources.
Public safety roles have mostly been spared from the cuts, but Wade warns of potential consequences. “What we know about parks, and Grand Canyon is an example: when somebody has to be carried out of the canyon for instance, it’s not just the rangers that do it. There are maintenance people who are called on to help with that,” he explains.
Economic worries
Local leaders are also concerned about the economic ramifications. Coconino County Supervisor Patrice Horstman emphasizes the significance of tourism for northern Arizona’s economy, stressing, “We want to have a positive tourist experience, we want people to come up here to Northern Arizona and to enjoy our Grand Canyon National Park.”
Recent staffing issues have already affected other parks. Saguaro National Park in southern Arizona announced that its visitor centers would close on Mondays until further notice. Senator Ruben Gallego, voicing his support for affected federal workers, warns of potential economic repercussions: “You’re firing people from the Grand Canyon, the second most visited national park in the country, as we’re going into spring break.”
In 2023, Grand Canyon National Park attracted over 4.7 million visitors, while Glen Canyon recreation area saw over 5.2 million. However, longer wait times have been reported at the Grand Canyon’s south entrance since the layoffs, potentially diminishing visitor experiences. Gallego predicts, “You’re going to start seeing this ripple effect where people start canceling flights, or don’t book flights. They’ll start canceling hotel rooms. We’ll see our revenues drop at our restaurants, everything else like that. And that’s something we really can’t have in northern Arizona.”
He believes the protests are impactful, urging other federal workers to share their experiences. “I actually do think they do make an impact, especially for people that are probably, you know, largely apolitical, just want to spend time with their families. When this is, put in front of them, they realize, how dumb these cuts are,” Gallego says.
As the situation evolves, more job cuts may loom. Wade mentions, “It’s not over yet. We’re hearing of more cuts coming down the road.” Federal agencies have been directed to propose further workforce reductions soon. Despite the challenges, Jones remains optimistic about her career, reflecting, “Even though I got fired, the sun is still going to rise, the moon is still going to come up, the birds are still going to migrate.”
KNAU science and technology reporter Melissa Sevigny contributed to this report.
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