Nearly 4,000 campsites across California’s 18 national forests may close this summer due to a federal budget freeze initiated by President Donald Trump, according to a report by The New York Times. The U.S. Forest Service is experiencing staffing shortages and stalled contracts for essential services like waste removal and trail maintenance.
The potential closures could affect popular outdoor destinations such as Desolation Wilderness in Lake Tahoe and the Mount Whitney area. An internal memo from the Forest Service indicated that financial limitations might render some sites unsafe to open at full capacity in 2025. The memo followed a wave of terminations by the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, which resulted in the loss of at least 2,000 employees.
The budget constraints have already impacted the Forest Service, with plans to eliminate 400 seasonal staff members from California’s national forests announced last year. The Pacific Crest Trail, a popular 2,650-mile hiking route, is also at risk, as a $667,000 federal grant for trail maintenance may be frozen.
Visitor centers and backcountry trails may face closures, and essential services like search-and-rescue operations could be significantly impacted. At Inyo National Forest, a 75% reduction in staff could lead to less waste removal and difficulty maintaining trail signs. The termination of the last permanent wilderness ranger in Desolation Wilderness highlights the staffing challenges.
The Forest Service stated its commitment to balancing public health and safety with recreation access, which is vital to local economies. However, the agency’s ability to maintain recreation opportunities remains uncertain due to the ongoing budget freeze.
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