{"id":73599,"date":"2025-06-18T12:03:02","date_gmt":"2025-06-18T19:03:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=73599"},"modified":"2025-06-18T12:03:02","modified_gmt":"2025-06-18T19:03:02","slug":"after-celebrating-state-parks-week-newsom-administration-calls-out-federal-assault-on-public-lands","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=73599","title":{"rendered":"After celebrating State Parks Week, Newsom administration calls out federal assault on public lands"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n
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What you need to know:<\/strong>\u00a0After more than 170 events last week celebrating California\u2019s state parks, Governor Newsom and his administration are calling out federal cuts to National Parks and public lands.<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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SACRAMENTO \u2013 As the Trump administration threatens the future of federal public lands, California is celebrating its thriving state park system, the largest in the nation, and its commitment to expanding access to the outdoors. This comes after the state celebrated its fourth annual\u00a0California State Parks Week<\/a>\u00a0with more than 170 events last week, highlighting the people, places and programs that make California\u2019s 280 state parks truly unique.<\/p>\n

On Friday, the Newsom administration\u00a0sent a letter<\/a>\u00a0to the U.S. Department of the Interior warning of public safety risks and reduced access due to major cuts proposed to staff and programs that support National Parks and other federal public lands. In contrast, California is expanding access to the outdoors, investing in communities and laying the groundwork for further expansion.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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“As the saying goes, national parks are America\u2019s best idea \u2013 and putting them on the chopping block has to be one of the worst. As the Trump administration threatens our public lands, California continues to expand access to achieve our vision of outdoors for all.\u201d<\/h4>\n
\nGovernor\u00a0Gavin Newsom<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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As outlined in the letter, the Trump administration’s proposed budget cuts to federal agencies like the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Indian Affairs threaten public lands, water supply, wildlife, and tribal sovereignty. These cuts would lead to reduced staff, services, public access, and increased risks such as wildfires and jeopardized public safety.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile we support efforts to improve the efficiency of federal services, current and proposed cuts raise serious concerns regarding public safety, water supplies, public access, and outdoor recreation across California,\u201d\u00a0wrote California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot.<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cAdditionally, these cuts impact the national economy as agriculture and outdoor recreation are critical and powerful economic engines for the country.”<\/p>\n

Outdoors For All<\/h2>\n

Connecting people to nature is critical for our physical, mental, and social wellbeing. Outdoor spaces also help communities adapt to climate change, can be good for wildlife and biodiversity, and are reliably a powerful economic engine for the state. Unfortunately, outdoor access and its many benefits are not equitably distributed to all communities.<\/p>\n

Under the leadership of Governor Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, a historic investment of more than $1 billion has been dedicated to expanding parks and nature access, including to Californians who live in underserved communities.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cFrom the otherworldly beauty of Joshua Tree, to the soul-stirring splendor of Yosemite, our parks are part of our national story. Their very existence reflects the best in us: a century-long, bipartisan tradition to preserve our iconic natural wonders for the next generation \u2014 and make them accessible to all.<\/p>\n

In California, we\u2019re not only standing to protect these sacred spaces, we\u2019re working to open them up to even more children, including through our California State Park Adventure Pass, which gives\u00a0fourth graders in the state and their families free access to 54 California State Parks.\u201d<\/h4>\n

\nFirst Partner Jennifer Siebel\u00a0Newsom<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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The administration\u2019s\u00a0Outdoor Access for All<\/a>\u00a0and California Natural Resources Agency\u2019s\u00a0Outdoors for All<\/a>\u00a0initiatives have created innovative access programs for children and families to explore California\u2019s state parks, mitigated impacts from climate change, and helped the economy.<\/p>\n

Here are some key accomplishments:<\/p>\n