MDLT in the news

Joshua Tree National Park now an epicenter of concern
Jessica Graybill Jessica Graybill

Joshua Tree National Park now an epicenter of concern

The Trump administration’s initiatives to reduce the size of the federal government have resulted in the departure of 24% of the Park Service’s permanent staff, and in May, the passage of Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” cut $267 million in Park Service funding that had been previously allocated for staffing.  

“So when you add in a shutdown that’s now furloughing additional members of that already stretched thin team, there’s more gaps in things like the visitor experience,” Lahage told SFGATE.

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Mojave Desert group warns public to recreate responsibly during government shutdown furloughs
Jessica Graybill Jessica Graybill

Mojave Desert group warns public to recreate responsibly during government shutdown furloughs

The Mojave Desert Land Trust (MDLT) fears the current federal shutdown exacerbates an already critical situation.

At present, the Department of the Interior has directed all national parks to remain open with limited staffing during this federal shutdown. Most staff are furloughed.

Visitor centers may be closed, and restrooms and trash collection may be limited, MDLT directors said. Law enforcement and fire staff will be working, but can quickly become overwhelmed.

“The ongoing federal government shutdown has the potential to do irreparable harm to our public lands," MDLT Public Policy Officer Krystian Lahage told the Daily Press.

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NPR: This iconic tortoise is dying out. It could affect the whole ecosystem
Jessica Graybill Jessica Graybill

NPR: This iconic tortoise is dying out. It could affect the whole ecosystem

And on a warm early morning summer day, Patrick Emblidge and Clay Noss with the Mojave Desert Land Trust, are hopeful they can catch a glimpse of a desert tortoise. To do that, they're searching for holes that tortoises make, often called burrows, in a canyon near Joshua Tree, where the town's namesake tree flourishes near desert flora and grasses.

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