National Park Service Needs Experts—Not Corporate Insiders

America’s national parks are supposed to be safe havens for wildlife—not playgrounds for political favors or unqualified appointees.

But instead, we got a nominee whose main qualification was working for a corporate concessions company—not managing public lands, protecting wildlife, or leading a federal agency. That pick collapsed after widespread backlash, leaving the National Park Service leaderless again. 

The Park Service is already struggling with deep staffing cuts and proposed budget reductions that threaten its ability to protect our parks.Our parks—and the wildlife who depend on them—cannot afford another unqualified nominee.

Wolves in Yellowstone are one of the greatest conservation success stories in American history. After being wiped out, they were carefully reintroduced, restoring balance to entire ecosystems. Bison, once driven to near extinction, are finally reclaiming parts of their historic range thanks to decades of conservation work.

These fragile victories depend on strong, science-based leadership.

Without strong National Park Service leadership, conflicts like those we’re already seeing in Montana and across the Northern Rockies will only get worse—where state officials are pushing aggressive wolf hunting and clashing with the National Park Service over bison leaving park boundaries. Without a steady, science-based director, these disputes can spiral, protections can be weakened, and iconic wildlife can end up in the crosshairs of state policies that allow them to be killed.

And with fewer park staff on the ground, there are already signs of strain—from closed facilities to reduced oversight—making it even harder to safeguard these ecosystems.

That’s why we’re calling on Donald Trump to do the right thing and select a qualified nominee:

Trump must appoint a proven, experienced conservation leader to run the National Park Service—NOT another political insider or industry executive.

Our national parks belong to all of us. They are home to irreplaceable wildlife, from wolves roaming wild landscapes to bison shaping the plains like they have for thousands of years—and grizzly bears, elk, and countless other species that depend on these protected lands to survive.

We need leadership that will protect them—not undermine them.

Please add your name now to demand real leadership for our national parks—and a future where America’s wildlife is protected, not put at risk.

The petition to President Donald Trump reads: Appoint a qualified, science-driven conservation leader to serve as Director of the National Park Service—someone with real experience protecting wildlife and public lands. America’s national parks, and species like wolves and bison that depend on them, need strong leadership—not political appointees without conservation expertise.

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Sources:

Newsweek | Trump Admin Withdraws National Park Service Nomination After Backlash | https://www.newsweek.com/trump-admin-withdraws-national-park-service-nomination-after-backlash-11886639

Associated Press | National Park Service nominee Scott Socha faces backlash | https://apnews.com/article/national-park-service-scott-socha-43dafc13b748ba3258b469221be5e001

Politico E&E News | Lawmakers express concern about loss of NPS nominee | https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/eenews/2026/04/29/lawmakers-express-concern-about-loss-of-nps-nominee-00896994

Washington Post | Trump withdraws nominee to lead national parks | https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2026/04/28/scott-socha-national-park-service/