Josh Burns loved the summer he worked at Sequoia National Park in California.
Like many rangers, Burns, 25, described the job as a labor of love. It was chosen not for charm or money, but for a true passion for nature and a strong sense of stewardship. And he was particularly excited when he secured a permanent position at Carlsbad Camberton National Park in New Mexico, selling tickets to visitors and welcoming him to the park in October.
However, his dream job ended abruptly on February 14th when he received the words that he had been fired. He was among thousands of other Parks and Forest Service employees across the country who lost some of the Trump administration's efforts to reduce the federal workforce.
“I fear my public land and the damage that will be inflicted on them by this terrible administration. He wrote in a letter on Instagram.
He was nervous about making a statement and feared that it could have an impact on his future employment. Still, he felt that he needed to say something.
“It's scary, but it was the right thing to do,” Burns said of his decision to post online.
He said Parks Services is an attempt to prioritize financial responsibility while maintaining critical services, and the number of current and former rangers have spoken out about sadness, fear and concern over social media. .
Thousands of people commented on a widely shared post from Brian Gibbs, an education park ranger at Efiguy Mound National Monument in Iowa. He said his post “helps to understand how important it is to open people's hearts and hearts and to protect and preserve these places in our shared natural heritage. I wanted it.
Kaesee Bourne, a 25-year-old former biologist with the Fish and Wildlife Department who lives in Las Vegas, has a strong friendship among her colleagues after the shooting, including those who provide moral support and employment resources. He said he had a sense of this. (The National Park Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service both fall under the Department of Interior, which did not immediately respond to requests for comment.) Like Burns, she felt she was forced to speak up online. But there was an initial reservation.
“I was no longer a federal employee, so I realized that someone had to say what was going on,” Born said. “If no one knows what's going on, then no one can help.”
Ms. Bourne implied restrictions created by the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees from engaging in any form of political action.
Further west, Kenan Chan lost his job at California's Channel Islands National Park, and after posting a farewell letter to Instagram, where he studied marine ecology. He included some photos taken under the water at work.
“Park Services is something everyone loves in America and around the world,” Chan said in an interview. “It's beyond the party, right? It's not Democrats. It's not Republicans. Everyone. Everyone loves the park.”
