Trump plans to eliminate 60+ positions in NPS Northeast Regional Office

Letter Text (PDF)

Washington (November 7, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, today led the full Massachusetts delegation — Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Representatives Richard Neal (MA-01), Jim McGovern (MA-02), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Jake Auchincloss (MA-04), Katherine Clark (MA-05), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), and Bill Keating (MA-09) — in writing to Secretary of the Interior (DOI) Doug Burgum, demanding the Trump administration end its continued assault on the National Park Service (NPS) by reversing its plan to conduct mass firings of NPS staff.

On October 20, DOI disclosed its plan to eliminate 63 positions within the NPS Northeast Regional Office through a federal court filing, although the court has preliminarily enjoined it from proceeding. This firing plan would add to vacancies already created by an alarming trend of NPS staff departures under the Trump administration and the NPS staff furloughs driven by the Republican government shutdown. The Northeast Regional Office plays an essential role in safeguarding the ecological and cultural integrity of 83 parks throughout New England and across 13 states, and Massachusetts parks are under serious threat from existing and planned attacks on NPS staffing.

In the letter the lawmakers write, “The Department of the Interior’s (DOI) plan to conduct mass firings within the National Park Service (NPS) is unacceptable, unlawful, and an undeniable threat to the operations of park units throughout Massachusetts. Since the second Trump administration began, NPS staff departures and ongoing shutdown-related furloughs have imperiled the stewardship and long-term survival of our parks, natural heritage, historic sites, and cultural resources. Profoundly harmful economic consequences for the communities that support and depend on our parks are inevitable. We urge you to follow the law, protect our natural and cultural assets, and stop this attack on Massachusetts NPS employees.”

The lawmakers request answers to the following questions by November 21, 2025:

1. What analysis or criteria did DOI use to justify its plan to eliminate the 63 positions in the Northeast Regional Office?
2. Please identify the positions DOI is proposing to eliminate, including the job responsibilities and employing offices.
3. Are there additional NPS positions that DOI is proposing to eliminate within Massachusetts?
4. Please provide updated staffing data for all the NPS units and offices within Massachusetts, including the number of vacant positions at each unit and office and length of each vacancy.
5. If the regional offices are closed, please describe how DOI will maintain support for Massachusetts park units.
6. Has DOI assessed how vacancies, reductions-in-force, and forced early retirements will negatively affect NPS expertise in museum conservation, natural resource management, and environmental review?
7. Has DOI assessed how vacancies, reductions-in-force, and forced early retirements, particularly those in regional offices, will result in legal compliance issues and project delays?
8. With existing vacancies, ongoing furloughs, and proposed staff firings, how will DOI meet its statutory and regulatory obligations under the Endangered Species Act, the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act, and other relevant laws?
9. Are any projects in the 13 states covered by the Northeast Regional Office, as well as any projects associated with America 250 celebrations, delayed due to staffing shortages?
10. Will the Department commit to pausing any firings or closures until a full assessment of their impacts on park operations, cultural resource protection, and visitor safety is completed and shared with Congress?
11. Is DOI requiring NPS staff to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) to prevent them from sharing information on staffing issues?

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