Yosemite National Park Workers Protest Job Cuts with Upside-Down Flag

In a bold statement, workers at Yosemite National Park hung an upside-down American flag from the iconic El Capitan rock formation to protest the Trump administration’s decision to cut 1,000 jobs within the National Park Service. The flag, a symbol of distress, was displayed on February 23, 2025, during the park’s annual “firefall” event, when thousands of visitors gather to witness the breathtaking natural phenomenon.

The protest highlights the concerns of park employees, who fear that the job cuts will compromise the safety and maintenance of national parks. With over 325 million people visiting US national parks in 2023, the stakes are high. Yosemite alone welcomed nearly 4 million visitors that year, making it the sixth-most visited park in the National Park Service system.

Gavin Carpenter, a maintenance mechanic at Yosemite, supplied the flag for the protest. “We’re bringing attention to what’s happening to the parks, which are every American’s properties,” Carpenter said. “It’s super important we take care of them, and we’re losing people here, and it’s not sustainable if we want to keep the parks open.”

The Impact of Job Cuts

The job cuts have left national parks understaffed and vulnerable. Some parks have been forced to reduce their services, including search and rescue teams. Former employees, like Olek Chmura, a custodian who was let go, worry about the consequences of the mass firings. “What does this mean for the state of national parks? What does this mean for wildlife conservation?” Chmura asked.

A Glimmer of Hope

In response to the backlash, the Trump administration announced plans to restore at least 50 positions within the National Park Service and hire nearly 3,000 additional seasonal workers. However, many park employees remain skeptical about whether this move will address the long-term concerns about funding and resources ¹ ².