Dozens of demonstrators gathered at the Gettysburg National Military Park on Saturday as part of a nationwide protest to support the National Park System and federal employees impacted by President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s cuts to the federal government.
This past Saturday dozens of demonstrators gathered feet from where Union soldiers repelled General George Pickett’s charge at the Gettysburg battlefield and national cemetery in order to show their appreciation for those working for the National Park System.
”We’re gathering at Gettysburg National Military Park as part of the national movement to save our national parks here in America,” Missy Barnes, a York County resident, explained in an interview.
“People are gathering from Alaska down to the Everglades to send a message that we want our national parks to be funded by the federal government. We want our park rangers to stay employed. These parks tell the story of America and they’re ours to use and enjoy. And we don’t want them privatized and we don’t want them exploited.”
Last month, four probationary employees were fired by President Donald Trump’s administration as part of Elon Musk’s efforts to layoff close to 1,000 NPS employees nationwide. Probationary employees include those that are newly hired by the federal government or federal government employees who were promoted within the past year.
The Washington Post reported that Trump’s layoffs fired a team of park rangers at Gettysburg that were responsible for managing reservations for renting historic farmhouses located on the Civil War battlefield.
Visitors had the opportunity to stay at the Michael Bushman House, which served as a staging ground for Confederate General John Bell Hood, or the John Slyder farmhouse, which was a defensive position for Union sharpshooters, but their reservations have been canceled indefinitely.
According to the NPS, Gettysburg National Military Park and the nearby Eisenhower National Historic Site, which was home to President Dwight Eisenhower, generates roughly $90 million a year and supports over 700 jobs.
After gathering on the hallowed battlefield for an hour, roughly 40 demonstrators marched through Gettysburg receiving support from those visiting and living inside of the small community. It should be noted that Adams County, which is where Gettysburg is located, voted for Trump by a 2 to 1 margin in the 2024 presidential election.
“ These are our national parks,” John Seitz, a retired veteran who spent 32 years serving in the military. They’re paid for by the federal government for the people, and we need to speak out against what’s going on.”
