Some rangers decided it was worth the risk to speak out online about their firings and share their love of the National Park Service.
Josh Barnes loved the summers he spent working at Sequoia National Park in California.
Like many rangers, Mr. Barnes, 25, described the job as a labor of love, one chosen not for glamour or money but for a true passion for nature and a strong sense of stewardship. And so he was especially excited when, in October, he secured a permanent position at Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico, selling tickets to visitors and welcoming them to the park.
But his dream job was abruptly terminated when he received word on Feb. 14 that he had been fired. He was among thousands of other parks employees around the country who have lost their jobs part of the Trump administration’s efforts to shrink the federal work force.
“I’m terrified for my public lands and the damage that will be done to them by this horrible administration. I hurt for the people who live in and celebrate these places,” he wrote in a letter on Instagram.
He was nervous about speaking out, and he feared it could affect his future employment. Still, he felt he needed to say something.
“It’s scary, but it was the right thing to do,” Mr. Barnes said of his decision to post online.
He’s one of a growing number of current and former rangers who have voiced their sadness, fear and concerns on social media about the cuts, which the Parks Service has said were an attempt to prioritize fiscal responsibility while maintaining critical services.