How will federal employee cuts affect local communities and public lands?

Federal employee cuts will create a ripple effect impacting families, communities, and the care of natural resources. With reduced staffing, public lands will not receive the same standard of care, which will directly affect tourism and the local economy. For communities that depend heavily on tourism related to these natural areas, the consequences are particularly devastating. Amanda Mae Downey, who has lived and worked in her community her entire life, finds these potential changes heartbreaking as they threaten both environmental stewardship and economic stability in tourism-dependent regions.