Visitors to Yosemite National Park on February 22 witnessed more than the famous “Firefall” – a breathtaking natural phenomenon that makes Horsetail Fall on El Capitan glow like molten lava. This year, an upside-down American flag was also seen hanging from the granite cliffs, drawing attention to recent staffing cuts affecting national parks.
The flag, traditionally a symbol of distress, was reportedly placed by Yosemite employees protesting layoffs tied to federal budget cuts. Gavin Carpenter, a maintenance worker at the park, told the San Francisco Chronicle that he helped hang the flag to highlight concerns about diminishing resources.
“It’s super important we take care of [the parks], and we’re losing people here. It’s not sustainable if we want to keep the parks open,” Carpenter stated.
Yosemite, one of the most visited national parks in the U.S., hosted nearly 3.9 million visitors in 2023. The park, known for its giant sequoias and diverse wildlife, plays a vital role in conservation. However, recent job cuts have sparked nationwide concern about how the National Park Service will continue to operate effectively.
One affected park ranger, Brian Gibbs from Iowa, shared his heartbreak on social media after being abruptly locked out of his email—his first indication of being let go. His emotional post has since gone viral, shared over 200,000 times.
As national parks face uncertain times, advocates continue to stress the importance of protecting these treasured public lands for future generations.
