Parks face cuts, closures

President Donald Trump’s fiscal 2027 budget proposal would cut National Park Service operations by $736 million, or more than 25%, as the summer travel season approaches. (npca.org) The National Parks Conservation Association said the April 3 proposal threatens the operation of more than 430 national park sites nationwide. The group said the reduction could eliminate thousands more jobs after a year of staffing losses. (npca.org) The same advocacy group said the Park Service has lost more than 4,000 employees, nearly 25% of its workforce, since January 2025 through resignations, retirements and hiring barriers. It said park staffing had already fallen 13% since 2011 even as visits rose 19%, topping 323 million in 2025. (npca.org) Those federal cuts are still only a proposal, and Congress must review them. But visitors are already seeing concrete changes on the ground in 2026, from new fees in Maine to storm-related closures in Hawaii. (npca.org) (pressherald.com) (mauicounty.gov) At Acadia National Park, the biggest 2026 fee change is for foreign tourists. The Press Herald reported that an America the Beautiful pass now costs non-U.S. residents $250, up from the standard $80 price for U.S. citizens and residents. (pressherald.com) Acadia’s own fee page says non-U.S. residents age 16 and older must also pay an extra $100 per person unless they enter with an annual pass or an America the Beautiful pass. Standard entrance fees remain $20 to $35. (nps.gov) The park is also operating with spring restrictions. The National Park Service says part of the Park Loop Road is closed through June 12, Cadillac Summit Road is closed through April 30, and several trails are shut for peregrine falcon nesting season. (nps.gov) In Maui County, Kepaniwai Heritage Gardens has remained closed since county officials said March Kona low storms caused erosion and flooding in the Wailuku River. The county said two picnic pavilions were undermined and a large pine tree fell across the river. (mauicounty.gov) The Maui News reported Friday that public access also remains closed at ʻĪao Valley State Monument, and the access road to both parks is limited to local traffic while repairs continue. (mauinews.com) In Maine, the Press Herald said Acadia drew 4,042,403 visits through the end of October 2025, up 3.2% from the same period a year earlier, with August the busiest month since 1989. That means new fees and reduced access are hitting one of the country’s most heavily used parks. (pressherald.com) For travelers, the immediate takeaway is practical: park budgets are being fought over in Washington, but closures, detours, fee changes and seasonal restrictions are already in effect on the ground. (npca.org) (nps.gov) (mauinews.com)