Statement from Sandra Marra, President & CEO of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy:
“The mass terminations of federal employees within the USDA Forest Service and the National Park Service are deeply concerning and will have devastating impacts to our beloved public lands, including the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. Unprecedented in magnitude, these firings are being carried out without regard to the agencies’ ability to perform their essential duties as required by law to effectively manage our public lands and resources. .....
"Unlike other units of the Park Service, National Scenic and Historic Trails depend on volunteers and NGO partners to steward and maintain the integrity and connectivity of the Trails. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy works shoulder-to-shoulder with the USFS and NPS in the day-to-day operation of the Appalachian Trail and coordinates the on-the-ground efforts of the 30 Trail Clubs and thousands of volunteers. Despite the reliance on volunteers and NGOs, none of our work is possible without our federal partners.
"The 10% reduction of USFS staff and 5% reduction at the NPS will further hinder already understaffed teams and severely delay the agencies’ approval and supervision of critical Trail improvement projects — including treadway and shelter repairs in the areas impacted by Hurricane Helene and, along the entire treadway, bridge replacements, privy upgrades, invasive species removal, and natural resource restoration. In addition, these inefficient and scattershot terminations will negatively impact wildfire and emergency response in an era when wildfires are becoming increasingly larger and more destructive." ~~ 19 February 2025
https://appalachiantrail.org/news/federal-terminations-to-impact-appalachian-trail/