The Trump administration has blocked more than 130 planned projects across U.S. national parks, putting at least $25 million in previously secured funding on hold, according to internal documents reviewed by The Washington Post.
The projects include work at some of the country’s best-known national parks, including Yellowstone, Yosemite, Zion and Joshua Tree. The funding was intended for a range of activities, from wildfire prevention and habitat protection to historic preservation and visitor services.
National Park Projects Await Final Approval
The funding was not necessarily canceled outright. Instead, the Department of the Interior rejected more than 130 partnership agreements that were required before the National Park Service could release the money.
The agreements had already secured funding through congressional appropriations, existing federal programs or internal National Park Service processes. However, the projects still needed final approval from the Interior Department before the funds could be released.
The Interior Department said it had rejected agreements involving organizations that it believed were working against the priorities of the Trump administration.
Department spokesperson Aubrie Spady said the decision was intended to ensure taxpayer money was being used in line with the administration’s goals, including expanding access to public lands and supporting domestic energy production. The department did not provide specific details about which projects or organizations failed to meet those priorities.
Joshua Tree Among the Parks Most Affected
Joshua Tree National Park appears to be one of the hardest-hit locations.
At least 10 proposed partnership agreements involving the park were rejected. The projects included wildfire recovery and prevention work, as well as efforts to remove rodents carrying hantavirus from historic buildings.
One internal document warned that without funding for a wildfire preparedness project, the park could face larger fires and higher firefighting costs. The rejected agreements would also have supported at least 16 positions connected to work at the park.
Other projects affected by the funding decision involve conservation and historic preservation.
At Effigy Mounds National Monument in Iowa, one proposed project would have removed trees threatening prehistoric Native American burial mounds. Another partnership in California was intended to help protect the endangered San Francisco garter snake in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
In Alaska, funding for three workers responsible for caring for sled dogs at Denali National Park and Preserve was also among the rejected agreements. The dogs are used by park rangers for winter transportation and visitor assistance.
More Than $12 Million in Projects Linked to One Organization
The Great Basin Institute, a nonprofit conservation organization, was particularly affected by the decision.
According to the documents, more than 70 of the rejected partnership agreements involved the organization, representing at least $12.7 million in funding.
The institute’s leadership said it was not directly notified by the Interior Department. Instead, employees learned about the decisions from staff members at the national parks involved.
The organization has asked the Interior Department for an explanation of why its agreements were rejected.
National Parks Already Facing Staffing Pressure
The funding dispute comes as the National Park Service is already dealing with significant staffing challenges.
The Washington Post reported that the Park Service has lost roughly a quarter of its permanent workforce since Donald Trump returned to office and began efforts to reduce the size of the federal government. Blocking additional project funding could place further pressure on parks that are already operating with fewer employees.
The issue also comes against the backdrop of a broader debate over National Park Service funding. The Trump administration’s proposed fiscal 2027 budget would provide about $2.2 billion in discretionary funding for the agency, a reduction of roughly 32% from the $3.27 billion provided in fiscal 2026. The House Appropriations Committee has rejected that level of cuts and proposed funding much closer to the previous year’s level.
What Happens to the $25 Million?
One of the biggest unanswered questions is what will happen to the money that had already been allocated to the projects.
Former National Park Service officials and park employees have questioned whether the funds could eventually be redirected to other priorities within the Interior Department.
The Interior Department has not publicly provided a detailed explanation of where the money associated with the rejected projects will go.
For now, the projects remain blocked, leaving national parks and their outside partners uncertain about whether the work can move forward.
The controversy is likely to add to the growing debate over the future of the National Park Service, particularly as the administration considers broader changes to the way America’s national parks are funded, staffed and managed.
