Rep. Sykes Leads Letter Requesting Full Funding for National Parks Service, Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Rep. Sykes Leads Letter Requesting Full Funding for National Parks Service, Cuyahoga Valley National Park

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) sent a letter to House and Senate Leadership and leadership on the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to advocate for full funding of the National Park Service. The current administration has requested a $1.2 billion decrease to the National Park Service's budget - a decrease that Rep. Sykes outlines would be particularly harmful to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and National First Ladies Museum, both located in Ohio's 13th Congressional District.

In her letter, Rep. Sykes stated:

These cuts would have a severe impact on National Parks across the country, but would be especially damaging for the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, located in Ohio's Thirteenth Congressional District. Cuyahoga Valley National Park contributes over $225 million in economic impact per year while supporting 2,000 jobs, and a loss in federal dollars could have devastating effects on the park and its surrounding communities. As such, I respectfully request that the National Parks Service receive robust funding in the Fiscal Year 2026. Without this critical funding, Northeast Ohio risks losing one of its greatest national treasures that communities rely on for economic stability.

The letter continues:

Even as the federal funding for the National Park Service has decreased over the years, the staff at the Cuyahoga Valley National Park have continued to keep the Park as a top destination for travelers and community members alike. However, repeated cuts and staffing shortages have taken their toll. Cuyahoga Valley National Park is still recovering from the Trump Administration's hiring freeze earlier this year, and as of April 2, only 18 seasonal staff members had been hired compared to the typical 40-45 seasonal staff.5 These shifts in resources lead to missed opportunities and deferred maintenance, leading to park infrastructure that is unsightly, unsafe, more susceptible to damage, and can deteriorate more quickly. While the Park has benefited greatly from the Great American Outdoors Act's National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Restoration Fund, this program has depleted its funding and must be reauthorized and appropriated, making funding cuts even more detrimental to the Park.

My district is also home to another National Park Service site, the National First Ladies' Library and Museum, which is visited by tens of thousands of park visitors each year and serves as the nation's only showplace to honor America's iconic First Ladies. Established in October 2000, the facilities include galleries, a research library, conference and seminar rooms, a Victorian theater, a gift shop, archival storage and processing rooms, and administrative offices. The Museum currently holds over 5,000 artifacts related to the First Ladies as well as more than 1,000 books and scholarly papers. Attendance at the Library and Museum requires an active and well-maintained National Park, and without federal funding to help ensure this, this nation could lose the only site in the world dedicated to preserving and appreciating the legacies our First Ladies have played in shaping American history.

Read the full letter here.