Thousands of California Campsites May Close Due to Trump Administrations Cuts

A government document accessed by the New York Times indicates that thousands of campsites and trails in California’s national forests could be forced to close this summer because of cuts to federal staffing and stalled funding.

Staff reductions orchestrated by Elon Musk and President Donald Trump and carried out under the banner of the new Department of Government Efficiency, have ignited fierce criticism both inside and outside of the Forest Service.

According to internal records from the U.S. Forest Service, nearly 4,000 campsites across 18 national forests may shut down in part or entirely, thanks to recent layoffs and budget restrictions that have halted maintenance contracts for essential services like restroom facilities.

Employees describe being blindsided by mass terminations, with many losing their jobs just before the end of probationary periods. This abrupt downsizing has strained the agency’s ability to keep crucial operations running smoothly, from maintaining trails to responding quickly to wildfires. Conservation groups and outdoor enthusiasts alike have condemned the cuts, arguing that essential services and environmental stewardship are being sacrificed in the name of cost-saving measures, ultimately placing public safety and forest health in jeopardy.

The potential campground closures come as forests face an exodus of employees who handle everything from scientific research and wildlife protection to firefighting. A widespread loss of Red Card-certified workers—who are trained to battle wildfires—raises fears that smaller blazes could spread more easily without timely containment. Local economies reliant on tourism might also feel the effects, particularly in popular recreation hubs like Inyo National Forest and the Lake Tahoe Basin.

Internal memos suggest staff reductions, including the termination of permanent ranger positions, may leave fewer people to manage trails, maintain visitor centers and properly dispose of waste at heavily visited sites. The closures could create both inconvenience and heightened safety risks for outdoor enthusiasts, who often rely on open trails for safe passage and visitor centers for critical information. Meanwhile, the Forest Service has yet to receive approval for a fresh hiring campaign, leaving the fate of California’s summer recreation season uncertain.

Earlier this week, four prominent organizations—Sierra Club, Union of Concerned Scientists, OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates, and the Japanese American Citizens League—filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk and DOGE, alleging that the widespread termination of federal employees has had devastating effects on public lands.

Represented by the Campaign Legal Center, with Sierra Club’s Environmental Law Program as co-counsel for Sierra Club, the groups argue that Donald Trump’s support for DOGE’s budget cuts and firings has jeopardized visitor safety, wildlife protection, and wildfire prevention across national forests and parks.

According to the lawsuit, DOGE’s actions have undercut essential staffing and services, including firefighting, trail maintenance, and oversight of critical ecological research. In a statement, the Sierra Club’s executive leadership condemned the layoffs as “careless and illegal,” warning that shuttered facilities, neglected trails, and understaffed firefighting operations pose a growing threat to public safety and local economies that rely on tourism.