By Kathleen Shannon - Producer, Contact - News
Big Sky Connection - Advocates for public lands worry about the impacts the U.S. Senate’s reconciliation bill would have on national parks and the communities that rely on them. Proposals include nearly $270 million in cuts and requirements to push oil and gas leasing on Western public lands. Comments by Daniel Hart, director of clean energy and climate policy, and Michelle Uberuaga [YOU-buh-RAH-ga], Greater Yellowstone senior program manager, both with National Parks Conservation Association.
Kathleen Shannon
June 19, 2025 - The U.S. Senate's answer to the House Republicans' "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" includes proposals that advocates for public lands say would "decimate" the National Park Service and those that rely on it, including some Montana towns.
The reconciliation bill proposes dropping nearly $270 million earmarked for the National Park Service in the Inflation Reduction Act. That comes after a 17% reduction in collective park staff since 2023.
Michelle Uberuaga, Greater Yellowstone senior program manager with the National Parks Conservation Association, said stress is high in her Yellowstone-centric town.
"Little rural gateway communities like ours not only are really dependent upon Yellowstone for our economy, but our friends and neighbors are employed in the parks on public lands," she explained. "And so, yeah, people are really concerned and upset."
In a letter to the Montana congressional delegation, the Gardiner Chamber of Commerce noted that tourism brought in more than $260 million in non-resident spending to Park County in 2023, a significant chunk of the state's $5.8 billion industry.
More than 4.7 million people visited Yellowstone last year, the second-highest number on record. While she's confident that Yellowstone staff will serve visitors well, Uberuaga said she worries about them.
"They're spread thin. Morale is low," she continued. "And they really need people and Congress to stand up for national parks and to make sure they have the funding, the resources, and the staff to continue to be America's treasures."
Vice President J.D. Vance has said he expects a version of the mega-bill to be passed by the July 4th recess.
Daniel Hart, director of clean energy and climate policy with the National Parks Conservation Association, pointed out to another concern he has with the Senate bill.
"There's a requirement to basically push for as much oil and gas leasing in the Western United States on public lands as possible, which could cause extreme problems environmentally to the national parks, but also can cause problems with visitation," he said.
Plus, the Senate bill proposes selling off public lands in 11 states, although Montana isn't one of them.
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