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About 4,000 campsites in 18 national forests in California could close some or all of the summer season as the U.S. Forest Service suffers from budget constraints following a freeze on President Donald Trump’s federal spending.
Potential closures could affect visitor centres and backcountry trails at popular outdoor destinations such as Lake Tahoe and DeSolation Wilderness in the Whitney Mount area.
An internal agency memo cited by the Times showed that financial restrictions could potentially make some sites “unsafe” because they could not maintain.
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A Forest Service employee who spoke in the publication said that the funding freeze could have a major impact on critical services, including human waste removal, trail maintenance and search and rescue operations. Mount Whitney, known for his frequent rescue and death, can be particularly affected.
Furthermore, the report states that cuts in staffing have led to the end of the last permanent wilderness ranger in the devastated wilderness. Visitor centres may be closed in other areas.
Budget constraints are already affecting the Forest Service.
Last year, local managers announced plans to remove 400 seasonal staff from California’s national forests. According to The Times, at least 2,000 Forest Service employees have been reportedly fired by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
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Potential funding cuts threaten the Pacific Crest Trail, a 2,650-mile hiking route that travels to around 1 million hikers a year. The Pacific Crest Trail Association told the San Francisco Chronicle that a $667,000 federal grant used for trail maintenance could be frozen, causing concerns about the safety of hikers.
Meanwhile, the National Park Service campsites are also facing chaos. Yosemite National Park recently delayed bookings at several popular campsites between June 15th and July 14th.
Although no official reason has been given, the Chronicle reported that the announcement followed the end of Doge’s extensive park service.
The U.S. Forest Service did not immediately respond to KTLA’s request for comment.
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