MAINE PUBLIC • February 13, 2025
Congresswoman Chellie Pingree is calling on the U.S. Department of the Interior to lift the hiring freeze on the National Park Service. National Parks around the country, including Acadia National Park, are unable to conduct normal seasonal staff hiring because of the freeze, which could affect park operations this summer. "It's hard to get seasonal workers in Maine, and the longer you have to wait, the less likely you are to get them," Pingree said. Acadia National Park annually collects $12 million of revenue from entrance fees. But because of the hiring freeze, dozens of seasonal placements for fee collectors have been rescinded. "You don't want to stop the people who actually collect the fees and help to pay for the park."