Just The Facts

Over a hundred people gathered at King Gillette Ranch to stand in protest

The National Park Service (NPS) is facing significant challenges due to recent federal workforce reductions, with approximately 1,000 NPS employees terminated as part of broader government downsizing efforts. These cuts in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA) threaten ongoing habitat restoration efforts, wildfire prevention programs, and public outreach initiatives, which rely heavily on federal support and staffing.

Your support is needed. SAMO Fund is the official non-profit partner to the National Park Service in the Santa Monica Mountains. NPS is leaning on SAMO Fund to keep their work going. SAMO Fund is hiring terminated NPS Rangers to work for us! Your funding supports these efforts.

Check out these news stories mentioning SAMO Fund:

• SAMO Fund worries wildfire resiliency projects in Santa Monica Mountains could be in jeopardy

• What Park Worker Firings Mean for LA’s Natural Wonders

• National Park Layoffs Assailed By Off-Duty Rangers and Community Members in SoCal Protests

• SAMO Fund worries wildfire resiliency projects in Santa Monica Mountains could be in jeopardy

• ‘It gets worse and worse’: L.A.’s post-fire struggle under Trumps cuts

Policy Developments Impacting the Santa Monica Mountains

As Santa Monica Mountains Fund continues its mission to support and enhance SMMNRA, it is crucial to stay informed about policy changes that could impact our work, our park, and the people we serve. We are actively tracking federal, state, and local legislative developments that may affect environmental conservation, public land management, funding for NPS programs, and our broader community initiatives. Below, we highlight key policy updates and their implications for our operations:

Federal Funding Freeze

The federal funding freeze temporarily paused financial support for key programs, affecting 32 SAMO Fund employees working on habitat restoration, fieldwork, and public outreach.

Our Response: We took immediate action to advocate for restored funding and explored alternative solutions to sustain these vital programs.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Policies

Recent executive orders impacted DEI initiatives in federal programs, potentially limiting resources for community-focused projects.

Our Response: SAMO Fund remained committed to ensuring everyone has the opportunity to experience and contribute to our work, regardless of their background.

Hiring Challenges

New policies created obstacles for NPS employees in public lands programs, eliminating critical roles that support environmental restoration, education, and park maintenance.

Our Response: We worked to support alternative pathways for hiring and sought solutions to ensure essential roles remained staffed to keep vital projects moving forward.

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Here are some action steps you can take organized by the Sierra Club: Outdoors for All: Reclaim, Protect, Persist Action Toolkit

Please consider a donation to SAMO Fund.