The Metro: Former Sleeping Bear Dunes superintendent warns of cuts to national parks, public lands
Tom Ulrich former deputy superintendent for Sleeping Bear, joined the show to discuss the current challenges facing America’s public lands.
The view from a dune at Michigan's Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
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Huge numbers of Americans took to the streets over the weekend for so-called “Hands Off” protests. People were condemning the Trump administration and many of its policies, including cuts to the National Park Service and other public lands.
Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency has reduced staff that oversees public lands by hundreds of people. A judge ordered those positions to be reinstated, but it’s unclear how many people have actually returned to work. The White House has vowed to fight those rulings.
Advocates, meanwhile, are bracing for additional cuts. This upheaval has raised concerns about the health and survival of America’s public lands, from popular national parks like Yosemite and Yellowstone to national lakeshores like Michigan’s Sleeping Bear Dunes.
Tom Ulrich was the deputy superintendent for Sleeping Bear Dunes for more than two decades before retiring in 2023. Ulrich joined The Metro to discuss the current challenges facing America’s public lands.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum issued an order last week, directing national parks to “remain open and accessible.” Burgum says that means there will be proper staffing, but not everyone is convinced this will happen.
Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.
More stories from The Metro on Monday, April 7:
- Mallory McMorrow wants to bring a new generation to the US Senate
- Curbing the impulse to buy more stuff
- Political pressure is ending diversity, equity and inclusion programs
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.
