Trump Firing Thousands Of National Park, Forest Service Workers Sparks Protests

More than 4,000 probationary workers lost their jobs in recent days as part of DOGE's ongoing purge.

Demonstrators have gathered around the country in recent days to protest President Donald Trump’s firing of around 1,000 newly hired National Park Service employees and more than 3,000 U.S. Forest Service workers.

The protests come as Trump and ally Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, work to eliminate thousands of federal jobs ― a turbulent effort that’s been met with multiple lawsuits. The recent gutting at NPS and USFS targeted recently hired probationary employees who hadn’t yet qualified for civil service protections.

The firings, which weren’t publicly announced but were confirmed by Democratic senators and House members, include many park rangers, who play vital roles protecting and preserving the country’s 63 national parks and hundreds of other sites.

One of the biggest demonstrations took place Monday at Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park, where local news outlets said hundreds showed up to protest.

“There’s going to be no park if we fire the park employees,” 11-year-old Stori Adams, whose mother works for the USFS, told Denver’s 9 News at the demonstration. “If my mom’s job gets impacted, or she gets fired, that could mean that I lose my house, and we find somewhere else to live.”