Rock Creek Park, a National Park Service (NPS) unit which stretches across DC and Maryland, is looking more like a meadow these days, with park grass as high as four feet in some areas. That's no fault of NPS. The agency submitted its annual mowing contract for review back in January. But now, every U.S. Department of the Interior contract over $50,000 requires approval by DOGE. Once approved, it will take another month to solicit bids and hire a contractor. While the contract sits in limbo, NPS maintenance employees are being pulled from their regular duties to mow in a few select areas. Rock Creek’s mowing contract is just one of hundreds stuck in the queue. (fb)

Visitors to Virginia's Shenandoah National Park faced long entry lines last weekend. Under the leadership of Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, the National Park Service is undergoing illegal and chaotic staff cuts, forced resignations, spending cuts, and top-down bureaucratic control that have sent our parks rapidly spiraling into a state of crisis. At some parks, visitors may not notice the changes. At other parks, it will be obvious as campsites close, ranger presence and guest activities are curtailed, and trails and fields become overgrown. This administration's actions are putting parks, park staff, and the public at risk. Tell your representatives that it's time to stop the senseless purge of the dedicated employees who manage our parks. 👉 https://ow.ly/1Q0e50W0jfN #NationalParks #ProtectParks #ProtectPublicEmployees #PublicLands (fb)