Utah’s Mighty Five are the pride of the state, to say nothing of the source of millions of tourist dollars. Most visitors leave with glowing reports, often exclaiming that visiting our parks was the experience of a lifetime.
Until Jan. 20.
That’s when Presidents Trump and Musk froze all federal hiring. What does this mean for our Mighty Five? No seasonal rangers will be hired for the summer crowds. Visitor centers will close. No fireside rangers’ talks. No trail guides.
No additional maintenance workers for the summer crowds.
The result? Dirty toilets with overflowing wastebaskets, grungy floors, empty toilet paper holders, dirty seats. Fire places full of garbage. Overflowing waste bins.
What message will visitors carry home this summer?
What can we do? Write and/or call Sens. Lee and Curtis and tell them to pressure Presidents Trump and Musk to exempt the national parks from the hiring freeze.
Kathryn Fitzgerald, Salt Lake City
