Yosemite Delays Summer Campground Reservations Due to Staffing Crisis

Yosemite National Park has announced a delay in the sale of campground reservations for five popular sites from June 15 to July 14 due to a staffing crisis linked to federal budget cuts and a hiring freeze initiated under the Trump administration. The impacted campgrounds include Upper Pines, Lower Pines, North Pines, Wawona, and Hodgdon Meadow, which typically sell out quickly each year. The park, which relies heavily on seasonal workers for operations during the busy summer months, is facing challenges in staffing as many job offers have been rescinded during the hiring freeze. Officials expect to provide at least a seven-day notice before releasing campground reservations, with further updates anticipated early in 2025 regarding the overall reservation system. This situation reflects broader issues affecting national parks nationwide amid budget cuts and staffing shortages. Meanwhile, the park continues to manage crowd control through existing reservation systems, although specifics are still pending approval from the new presidential administration.