Join Resistance Rangers In Protest At All National Parks March 1

Climbers fly upside down flag at Joshua Tree National Park

Feb 28, 2025

Climbers hung an upside down American flag—the international sign of distress—on Intersection Rock in Joshua Tree National Park this morning. The move is a call to action to join a grassroots protest to save our public lands and protect civil servants. Protests are planned at all 433 National Park sites tomorrow, March 1, 2025.

“We live in, recreate in, and love Joshua Tree National Park,” states one of the climbers who helped hang the flag this morning, and who wishes to remain anonymous. “We felt compelled to express our outrage against the Trump administration’s actions to decimate these protected lands. We stand in solidarity with Park Service employees who dedicate their lives to these places, and have saved me on more than one occasion. Their work is tireless and sincere; we would not have any federal lands the way we do without them. One man, one administration, one billionaire is not enough to get us to back down and abandon everything our Parks represent and protect.”

“Intersection Rock is one of the most famous, most sought-after, and the best looking of all Joshua Tree formations,” according to the beta on SummitPost. “It sits at the cross roads to many famous areas, and it’s the most recognizable rock you come to when you reach the main climbing area in Joshua Tree. Intersection Rock is only a hundred yards from Hidden Valley campground, and this campground is where most climbers try to get a campsite. It’s where people gather to talk to each other, make plans, run into old buddies and leave notes for each other.”

Six full-time employees at Joshua Tree National Park were laid off earlier this month, as part of the administration’s downsizing of the federal workforce. 2,300 total employees were fired at the Department of the Interior alone, including 1,000 members of the National Park Service. Another 3,400 were fired from the U.S. Forest Service, which is managed by the Department of Agriculture.

“These include Rangers, Scientists, Wildland Firefighters, First Responders, Trail Crews, Maintenance Crews, and other Mission Critical Staff,” according to a statement by Resistance Rangers, the group organizing the protests.

Those lost employees, along with chaos around seasonal hires—which were paused government wide by executive order, then partially re-opened for NPS only on February 12th—threaten the safety of national parks, national forests, and other public lands, just as spring tourism and the annual fire seasons get started. While 7,700 seasonal positions are now authorized at NPS, USFS is still unable to hire for its thousands of essential seasonal positions, including firefighters.

Now, there’s word that March may bring thousands more firings across the federal government, including at public land agencies. On February 26, the Trump administration ordered federal agencies to prepare for, “large-scale reductions in force,” by March 13. And a Memo distributed by the Personnel Management and Management and Budget offices told federal agencies to create organization plans that would eliminate positions by that same deadline.

And while that’s going on, it appears as if the administration may be working towards a mass reduction in protections for public lands, or even a mass sell off, in secret.

All of these actions combined represent an unprecedented threat to our nation’s natural resources, wild places, clean air and water, and to the people who protect and visit them. America’s public lands system is unique, and once even a small piece of it is lost, it will be lost forever. Protests are being organized at all 433 National Park sites, nationwide.

Below, you’ll find details of how you can join the protests. If you are a member of the media, this news release and associated materials are for you. The photos included here may be shared by any news outlet, with credit (and a link where possible) to Stuart Palley.

NEWS RELEASE: Grassroots Efforts Across Nation Come Together to Rally for National Parks

February 28, 2025

Contact: resistanceranger@proton.me

@resistancerangers (Instagram) @resistancerangers.bsky.social

433 National Park Sites, USA - A group of people united by their concern for public lands and employees of federal land management agencies will protest nationwide Saturday, March 1. This effort was spearheaded by a group of 650+ off-duty park rangers rallying to save public lands and protect civil servants. Rangers and the Parks themselves are under threat and we need to speak up. America’s Best Idea is yours to save!

Nicknamed “433:433:1” in recognition of the recent “50:50:1” protest efforts, the group aims to support 433 protests across 433 national park sites in one day. See this document for planned protest locations. Find a public fact sheet here.

The core messages of Resistance Rangers:

National parks are for ALL people.
We stand with all other public land agencies that share our values in stewarding the land and recognize the inherent value of biodiversity and thriving ecosystems.
Illegal firings and delayed seasonal hirings WILL impact public lands.
Termination of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility programs WILL make public lands less safe and work groups less innovative.
Parks and public lands generate significant economic benefits for surrounding areas. In short, in 2023, 325 million park visitors spent an estimated $26.4 billion in local gateway regions while visiting National Park Service lands across the country.
Supporters of Resistance Rangers are empowered to share the message, support in person or online, so long as they follow relevant park rules and Leave No Trace.

“I mourn for my job, but I mourn more for America's public lands,” said Josh Barnes, one of hundreds of probationary National Park Service employees indiscriminately fired on February 14. “I fear for their wellbeing under this current administration. Now, more than ever, we need to fight for our natural resources and historic sites. Use your voice and advocate for these loved, precious places!”

Organizers do not represent the National Park Service or Department of the Interior. Views and attitudes expressed in this News Release do not reflect views and attitudes of the National Park Service or Department of the Interior.

Protect Parks Protest

433 Parks, 433 Protests, 1 Movement

This protest is in support of our public lands and those that protect them. Rangers and the Parks themselves are under threat! By making our voices heard and bringing attention to these issues we can preserve our national treasures for our generation and all generations that come after.

The Facts

1,000 National Park Service and 3,400 Forest Service employees were Illegally Fired by the Trump Administration and Elon Musk’s DOGE Team
- These include Rangers, Scientists, Wildland Firefighters, First Responders, Trail Crews, Maintenance Crews, and other Mission Critical Staff.
At the order of President Trump, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and Energy Secretary Chris Wright are working to “Unleash American Energy” by Revoking Restrictions and Reviewing Federal Lands for Resource Extraction.
- All Federal Lands Are At Risk including NPS, USFS, BLM, and other Federal Public Lands.
Further reductions in force are expected, (OPM OMB Guidance on DOGE workforce 2/26/25) term based positions are forecasted to close.
- Affecting Tribal engagement and the workforce at large on completing stewardship projects.
In 2023, 325 million park visitors spent an estimated $26.4 billion in local gateway regions while visiting National Park Service lands across the country. These expenditures supported a total of 415 thousand jobs, $19.4 billion in labor income, $32.0 billion in value added, and $55.6 billion in economic output in the national economy
- This site can break down economic output by park!
- The FY 2024 budget for the NPS operations was $3.2 billion. This makes the NPS less than 0.15% of the total federal budget.
- The whole Department of Interior accounts for 0.7% of the FY 2025 U.S. federal budget
Between FY 2011 and FY 2022, the total number of full-time NPS employees decreased by approximately 3,400 (or 15%); in FY 2022 alone, visitation rose 5%, from 297 million to 312 million visitors.
Over the past 50 years, the number of federal workers has grown by roughly 6%. At the same time, the U.S. population has increased by 57%. The ratio of federal workers to national population has steadily decreased for the more than a half-century at this point.
in 2024, the total federal workforce compensation of $293 billion amounted to just 4.3% of the federal budget. Meanwhile, federal contractors accounted for $759.2 billion, or 11.4%. If federal workers were paid equally to private sector workers, their pay would make up a 10% share of the budget.
Federal workers earn nearly 25% less than private sector and state and local workers who perform similar jobs.

What can you do to help?

Make your voice heard: Attend Protests and Call your Representatives
Talk to your Friends and Family: Our Public Lands are Nonpartisan and enjoyed by Everyone
Protect your Public Lands: Practice “Leave No Trace” Principles, Prepare for Trips accordingly, and Follow Regulations

All photos: Stuart Palley

Wes Siler is your guide to leading a more exciting life outdoors. Upgrading to a paid subscription supports independent journalism and gives you personal access to his expertise and network, which he’ll use to help you plan trips, purchase gear, and solve problems. You can read more about what he’s doing on Substack through this link.