There’s No Price Tag on Our Public Lands

A view of public lands at Grand Teton National park. Photo by Lindsey Clinton ‘27.

Some of my fondest memories growing up were exploring the vast beauty of our national parks. From Grand Teton to Bryce Canyon, Acadia to Everglades, these parks weren’t just destinations–they were experiences that shaped who I am. Even in moments when the weight of my CamelBak bag felt like a small boulder on my back, the beauty around me made the miles of trail ahead all worth it. But now, the very essence of these natural wonders is being threatened. 

In recent weeks, President Donald Trump’s administration went on a firing spree, removing about “2,000 recently hired employees at the U.S. Forest Service and slashed an additional 1,000 jobs at the National Park Service.” These job terminations are not just a part of an ongoing push to cut federal bureaucracy and spending, but they also directly threaten the maintenance and safety of our national parks. 

As the White House’s “Fact Sheet” explains, this executive order “aims to decrease the size of the Federal Government further to enhance accountability, reduce waste and promote innovation.” These cuts directly threaten the preservation of natural spaces.

Protecting our national parks is not just an environmental issue; it’s also an economic issue.

The parks typically contribute over $55 billion annually to the United States economy. This income supports local businesses, creates jobs and drives national tourism, underscoring the tangible benefits of their preservation. 

But these parks do more than generate revenue–they connect us to something bigger than ourselves. Whether you are standing under the fragile arches in Arches National Park or riding mules through Grand Canyon National Park, these spaces remind us of the stunning and historic lands we are responsible for protecting. 

When these lands are threatened, people fight back. On March 1, thousands of people united in all 433 national park sites to protest the threats to public lands, including the job cuts. The Resistance Rangers, a group of 700 off-duty rangers who are deeply committed to the preservation of our public lands, organized the protests. They encouraged protesters to place signs in front of webcams, hang banners, hold American flags upside down as a sign of distress and rally around park signs. 

The Trail of Time in the Grand Canyon serves as a powerful reminder of the vast history that these lands hold, stretching back millions of years. When these rangers organized thousands of protesters, they added yet another historical mark to the metaphorical trail of time, a crucial point in the fight for public land preservation, underscoring the weight of the current situation. 

A marker along the Trail of Time in Grand Canyon National Park. Photo by Lindsey Clinton ‘27

But these rangers and activists were not the only ones who took a stand. On Feb. 25, Patagonia posted on its Instagram, “Trump wants to sell off our public lands.” This was in retaliation against the Trump administration’s plans to “illegally reduce and sell off large swaths” of public land for the interests of oil, gas and mining. 

“Connection.” “Biodiversity.” “Culture.” “There’s no price tag on our public lands.”

These are the keywords Patagonia chose to use to convey its message to its followers and the Trump administration. These lands are not simply empty spaces on a map; they are where memories are made, ecosystems thrive and history lies. 

Patagonia’s stance is consistent with its mission statement: “We’re in business to save our home planet.”

The voice of such a prominent and popular brand like Patagonia added legitimacy and urgency to the environmental movement, proving the mainstream priority to protect our environment. 

The fight for the preservation of public lands is far from over. Due to the Trump administration’s cuts on federal bureaucracy and spending, our national parks are under attack. The demand for the health and preservation of national parks, preservations and indigenous lands lies in the collective action of the people and the policy changes in government. 

Our public lands have no price tag—let’s keep it that way.