Please, Mr. President: A competent National Park Service director 

For Immediate Release                                                                                      

May 12, 2026

Contact:  Bill Wade, bwade@anpr.org, (520) 444-3973

The Association of National Park Rangers (ANPR) is committed to promoting the Congressionally-mandated National Park Service mission to conserve parks unimpaired for future generations and provide enjoyment for visitors. 

“Mike Pflaum, President of ANPR said, “Accomplishing the National Park Service mission is possible only if we care for the dedicated public servants who protect parks and ensure that the agency that employs them is adequately staffed and supported.

“When the president nominates a new director, we are counting on members of the Senate Committee for Energy and Natural Resources to determine that they and the general public believe the nominee will publicly commit that their service will: 

• Meet the requirements of the law by possessing ‘substantial experience and demonstrated competence in land management and natural or cultural resource conservation’ (54 USC Ch 1003)
• Be free from conflicts of interest.
  • Demonstrate that the first priority is parks and the people who protect them.
• Enhance the National Park Service and park rangers’ ability to serve visitors by restoring and increasing staffing.
  • Public servants serve the public trust. Staff parks with people sworn to uphold the Constitution and serve the American People.
• Publicly commit to ensuring national parks are places where everyone will remain welcomed to visit or work.
  • Parks are for everyone, and they should tell accurate and truthful stories that reflect the face of America.
• Not seek accommodation with private business owners who might seek long-term or permanent concessions who are primarily concerned with profiting from visitor services in parks.”

ANPR encourages the next nominee to demonstrate good faith by making public commitments to demonstrate they will neither support nor facilitate the privatization of park operations, properties, or lands, that they will not allow actions that replace civil servants with for-profit employees, and that they will take positive actions to enhance the abilities and effectiveness of nonpartisan, National Park Service employees.

“When a new director is confirmed by the full Senate, ANPR will plan to meet with them and discuss how we can work together to support the agency’s mission,” Pflaum concluded.

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