MAINE MORNING STAR • February 28, 2025
In December, Ellen Blackwood started her dream as a recreation fee technician at Acadia National Park. Just two months later that dream was cut short. Blackwood was one of 1,000 newly hired National Park Service workers who were fired from their jobs as part of a Trump administration plan to downsize federal spending led by billionaire Elon Musk. “I’m definitely scared. I had just signed a lease for a place,” Blackwood said. “But also it’s very concerning to hear all of these federal agencies losing employees. It’s not just the Park Service.” The layoffs have led to concerns about longer lines into the park and for potentially unsafe conditions for visitors. At least seven of the eight Acadia jobs that were cut were funded from fee donations, not appropriated money. “So it’s not saving the government money. Twelve million dollars was brought in by my position and others like it at Acadia in 2024. Without us there, there’s just no way the park could collect that much in the future.”