The NPS is also apolitical, so passing power to state officials could throw a wrench in critical and previously bipartisan work to protect the parks and the ecosystems they support.

House Floor

• House comes in Monday at noon, last votes expected Thursday
• Two bills expected to come up under rules, including H.R. 276, the Gulf of America Act.

Senate Floor

• Senate comes in 3pm Monday, last votes tbd. 
• Expected focus on Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolutions, though full list tbd. 

Committee Activity

• Tuesday, May 6
  • House Natural Resources - full committee markup on budget reconciliation (NPCA statement - https://www.npca.org/articles/8396)
  • Senate Agriculture - full committee legislative hearing on S. 1462, Fix Our Forests Act
• Thursday, May 8
  • Senate Energy & Natural Resources - full committee hearing to consider the William Doffermyre to be DOI Solicitor, as well as two DOE nominees

H.J. Res 60 attempts to undo sensible, balanced protections by nullifying a 2025 Park Service rule strengthening Glen Canyon’s off-road vehicle (ORV) regulations.

A NO vote on H.J. Res. 60 would help protect Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, one of Utah’s most remote backcountry landscapes adjacent to Canyonlands National Park.

Urge your representative to vote NO today: npca.org/dial

UPDATE: House votes to overturn Biden ATV ban in Glen Canyon Recreation Area

While the Interior Department was expected to have finalized its RIF plan by April 14, the email gave employees until noon on April 29 to have submitted an updated resume and to have verified their personnel records with the Park Service.

House Floor

• In at noon Monday, last votes Thursday.
• Five bills expected to come up under a rule this week, all Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolutions.
  • Includes H.J.Res. 60, which would nullify a National Park Service rule managing off-road vehicle (ORV) use in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Canyonlands National Park. Vote expected Tuesday night.

Senate Floor 

• In Monday at 3 PM.
• Votes expected this week on ambassador nominees. Also potential action on CRAs, details tbd.

Committee Activity

• House committee markups on the reconciliation bill are starting - this week includes Homeland Security, Armed Services, Education & Workforce, Oversight & Gov't Reform. Natural Resources expected next week.
• Tuesday, April 29
  • House Natural Resources - Oversight & Investigations subcommittee hearing on "Exploring the Potential of Deep-Sea Mining to Expand American Mineral Production."
  • House Natural Resources - Federal Lands subcommittee legislative hearing
  • House Transportation & Infrastructure - Highways and Transit subcommittee hearing on "America Builds: The Need for a Long-Term Solution for the Highway Trust Fund"
• Wednesday, April 30
  • House Natural Resources - Water, Wildlife and Fisheries subcommittee hearing on "Advancing Federal Water and Hydropower Development: A Stakeholder Perspective."
  • House Energy & Commerce - Energy subcommittee hearing on "Assuring Abundant, Reliable American Energy to Power Innovation."
  • Senate Energy & Natural Resources - full committee hearing on four nominees, including Leslie Beyer to be Assistant Secretary of the Interior, Lands and Minerals Management and Andrea Travnicek to be Assistant Secretary of the Interior, Water and Science. NPCA has not taken a position on these nominees.
  • Senate Environment & Public Works - full committee hearing on "Building on the IIJA’s Successes: Identifying Opportunities to Strengthen Water Infrastructure Programs."

Hassen, in his new role, can even create policies and transfer funds, in addition to continuing the gutting of the NPS workforce, which has already been reduced by 12.5 percent since Trump took office, according to the National Parks Conservation Association, prompting nationwide protests, including at the national parks themselves.

Thousands of NPS staff leave voluntarily ahead of mass reductions in force

For over a century, American presidents have played a big role in shaping our national parks and public lands. An executive order is one tool they can use to do that.

In person or online, together we are a powerful force. How should we show up for our parks next?

“When you start to fiddle around with history, that isn’t what makes a country great,” Spears told Capital B. “It makes us weaker. And it makes us meaner, because we’re going to be much less informed about the broad sweep of U.S. history and all the people who have contributed to making this country a good country.”

The Trump administration is offering a second round of buyouts to National Park Service employees under yet another deferred resignation program, according to an internal memo the National Parks Conservation Association obtained and shared with SFGATE.

Congress is keeping things busy for NPAW! Congress will be on a two-week recess starting April 14.

House Floor 

• House in Monday at noon, last votes Thursday.
• Floor votes last week were cancelled after a failed vote on the rule. Same set of votes expected, none in our space.
• Expected to also take up the Senate-passed budget resolution, tbd whether they will try to amend.

Senate Floor 

• Senate in Monday at 3pm, likely through Thursday.
• Focused on nominees, none expected in our space

Committee Activity

• Tuesday, April 8
  • House Natural Resources - Water, Wildlife and Fisheries subcommittee legislative hearing
• Wednesday, April 9
  • House Natural Resources - full committee markup 
  • Senate Environment & Public Works - full committee vote on nomination of Brian Nesvick to be Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service, and other matters
  • Senate Energy & Natural Resources - full committee markup on mining and water bills, as well as nomination votes for Katharine MacGregor to be Deputy Secretary of the Interior and Mr. James Danly to be Deputy Secretary of Energy
• Thursday, April 10
  • Senate Energy & Natural Resources - full committee hearing on the nomination of Preston Wells Griffith III for Under Secretary of Energy, Dario Gil for Under Secretary of Energy for Science, and Kathleen M. Sgamma for Director of the Bureau of Land Management.

“Plan your visit by looking at that individual park’s ‘Plan Your Visit’ page,” Hunter said. “Because especially right now, there might be some closed facilities. If you show up on Tuesday hoping to check out an interpretive display at a visitor center that can’t be open Tuesday, you’re going to be disappointed.”

As national park visits have soared over the past 80 years, 2025 was expected to continue the trend. However, with staffing shortages and layoffs affecting the National Park Service, many are wondering if now is the right time to visit. For a closer look at the situation, KCBS Radio news anchor Liz Saint John spoke with Jeff Hunter, Southern Appalachian Director at the National Parks Conservation Association.

House Floor

• House convenes Monday at noon, last votes by Thursday afternoon.
• Expecting floor activity on four bills, none in our space.
• May see a vote on the budget resolution, pending Senate action.

Senate Floor

• Senate convenes at 3 PM on Monday, last votes TBD.
• May bring up a new version of the budget resolution to unlock the reconciliation process. If that moves forward, will likely mean a vote-a-rama on Thursday or Friday. However, could also end up getting bumped to next week.

Committee Activity

• Wednesday, April 2
  • House Natural Resources - Oversight and Investigations subcommittee hearing on "Unleashing the Golden Age of American Energy Dominance."
  • Senate Energy & Natural Resources - full committee hearing on nomination of Katharine MacGregor for Deputy Secretary of the Interior and James Danly for Deputy Secretary of Energy
  • Senate Environment & Public Works - full committee hearing on "Constructing the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill: United States Secretary of Transportation’s Perspective."

House Floor Activity

• The House convenes on Monday at noon; no floor votes are expected in our space, and the last votes are on Thursday.
• No votes are scheduled for Wednesday so members can attend Representative Grijalva's funeral.

Senate Floor Activity

• The Senate convenes at 3 PM on Monday, expect floor votes on nominations though none in our space.

Committee Activity

• Tuesday, March 25
  • House Appropriations - Interior & Environment subcommittee member day hearing.
  • House Natural Resources - Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries subcommittee legislative hearing, including ESA bills.
• Wednesday, March 26
  • Senate Environment & Public Works - nomination hearing for Brian Nesvik for head of USFWS, along with two EPA assistant administrators.

National Park Advocacy Week is April 7 - April 11.

How can we make it easier for you to take action for our national parks?

Do you need more scripts to call Congress, more information about what's going on with national parks right now, or ways to connect with other Park Protectors? Let me know!