Record-breaking visitor numbers at U.S. national parks are straining resources and sparking political tensions, as recent directives demand changes to exhibits and new construction projects move forward. Conservation advocates weigh in on balancing public access with preservation amid shifting priorities. The debate highlights broader questions about how these protected lands should be managed in an era of growing demand and competing interests. A closer look at the challenges facing America’s most iconic natural spaces reveals a landscape in flux.
Americans continue to flock to the national parks, with more than 320 million visitors in the last year alone. But that broad appeal is facing new political pressures, from orders to revise exhibits to President Trump's construction projects. Amna Nawaz discussed the state of national parks with Tiernan Sittenfeld, the president and CEO of the National Parks Conservation Association.
