Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Faces Challenges Amid Federal Job Cuts

Wyoming’s outdoor recreation industry has seen steady growth in recent years, supported by new trails, increased tourism, and state investments, Gillette News Record reports.

However, recent federal job cuts and spending freezes may slow progress, raising concerns among advocates about the future of public land management.

Nonprofit organizations like Wyoming Pathways have played a crucial role in developing trails across the state, from Togwotee Pass to Pole Mountain and Commissary Ridge. However, Executive Director Mike Kusiek warns that federal budget cuts could significantly impact their ability to continue this work.

“Ninety percent of our budget is federal funds to get work done,” Kusiek said. “Funding streams are frozen.”

Even if funding resumes, he questions whether there will be enough federal employees available to help implement projects, given the recent layoffs in agencies responsible for Wyoming’s national forests and public lands.

With nearly half of Wyoming’s land being publicly owned, federal job reductions could strain essential services such as trail maintenance, campground operations, and emergency response.

“Public land management is the cornerstone of Wyoming’s outdoor recreation sector,” said Addi Jenkins, executive director of the Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Business Alliance. “Without a well-staffed workforce, we risk losing the very resources that allow Wyoming’s outdoor economy to flourish.”

Dan McCoy, director of the Wyoming Outdoor Recreation, Tourism and Hospitality Initiative, highlighted the importance of outdoor recreation, which generated $2.2 billion for the state last year. Of the nearly 16,000 jobs in the industry, about 884 are government positions.

The Wyoming Outdoor Council warned that agencies managing public lands could now face serious constraints, affecting fire management, trail upkeep, and overall land use.

Recent federal job cuts have affected national parks across the country, with Wyoming’s Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks losing a reported 12 employees combined. The National Park Service has confirmed that seasonal workers will still be hired, but uncertainty remains about long-term staffing levels.

Superintendent Cam Sholly of Yellowstone National Park has long advocated for more staff to manage growing crowds. Yellowstone’s visitation has risen from 3.2 million in 2013 to 4.7 million in 2024, the park’s second-highest annual total.

“You need people to manage people, and you need people to protect this park,” Sholly said.

The National Parks Conservation Association notes that park staffing has declined by 20% since 2010, despite a 16% increase in visitation. Possible consequences of these staffing shortages include reduced visitor center hours, campground closures, and delays in maintenance projects.

In Teton County, where 97% of the land is federally owned, officials and residents are voicing concerns. The Teton County Board of Commissioners sent a letter to Wyoming’s congressional delegation, urging action to restore federal positions. A recent protest in Jackson highlighted community frustrations over the cuts.

In response to the uncertainty, Wyoming’s State Parks and Cultural Resources Commission is exploring ways to assist in maintaining public lands. Director David Glenn said his agency is forming a team to evaluate potential support options.

“It may be that State Parks ends up helping out, keeping certain things open across the state while this stuff gets figured out with the federal government,” Glenn said.

The long-term effects of these job cuts remain unclear, but advocates worry that reduced staffing could impact visitor experiences and Wyoming’s outdoor economy.

“There is still going to be a good amount of tourism, but the experience might be degraded,” Jenkins said.

She warned that a decline in quality could harm Wyoming’s reputation as a premier outdoor destination.