Matthew Wells, president of the Friends of the Fort Scott National Historic Site, told the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce about the consequences of the recent cuts to the National Parks Service by President Donald Trump at the weekly coffee on March 13.
Wells encouraged the community to call their elected representatives to tell them how important the fort is to the city of Fort Scott, with the historic site averaging 25,000 tourists a year.
In a later interview, Wells said that currently, Fort Scott National Historic Site is operating with less than 50% of its normal staffing levels.
“This has led to multiple-day closures of the park, a drastic cancellation of all interpretive programs, and a significant reduction in staff-led tours and educational events, that have historically been at the heart of this site’s appeal,” he said. “All of the activities that the Fort personnel do every year have been cancelled. But they are still trying, as staffing will allow, on a case-by-case scenario, to find educational opportunities with educators. With this loss of staffing, the essential public services and programs that are critical to the park’s mission have been disrupted, resulting in a diminished visitor experience.”
Wells said the reduction in staffing and closures have far-reaching consequences.
“As a gateway community, Fort Scott relies heavily on tourism dollars and taxes, with Fort Scott National Historic Site being one of the primary attractions drawing visitors. These cuts not only harm the park but also undermine the economy of the entire region, negatively affecting local businesses, hotels, restaurants, and other tourism-related services. The loss of visitors directly impacts local revenues, jeopardizing the livelihoods of residents and business owners who depend on tourism as a vital part of their income.”
“This ongoing situation is causing irreparable harm to Fort Scott National Historic Site and our community. With all Government credit cards being limited to $1, vital repairs can no longer be accomplished. Even the purchases of everyday items such as toilet paper are not possible, and trash services have been disrupted as payments cannot be made. We fear that if these issues are not addressed promptly, the future of the park could be in jeopardy, as could the economic and cultural vibrancy of our town. The historical significance of Fort Scott is irreplaceable, and we cannot afford to lose this essential part of our heritage, nor can we afford the continued erosion of the tourism-based economy that sustains our community.”
“Right now, two of our Friends (of Fort Scott National Historic Site organization ) board members are volunteering to keep the visitor center open,” Wells said. “Friends members are working multiple days a week. Both of them have taken the specialized training required by the federal government in order to be volunteers in that capacity. Others are volunteering as living historians to roam the grounds and to keep the smallest amount of interpretive program growing. Friends of the Fort is active and helping the fort in any way that we can.”
Carl Brenner, FSNHS Program Manager said the fort will be open to the public Friday through Tuesday from 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, the fort will be closed because of a staffing shortage, like last summer. During these times, the buildings will be closed but the public can walk the walking trails in the park.
Brenner referred this reporter to the Midwest communication contact person, who referred to the news media contact at the National Park Service. There has been no response to questions that were sent as of the time of this publication.
To contact the representatives(taken from the Bourbon County Kansas website:
U.S. Senators for Kansas
Roger Marshall – (Republican)
PO Box 1588
Great Bend, KS 67530
(202) 224-4774
Jerry Moran – (Republican)
PO Box 1372
Pittsburg, KS 66762
(620-232-2286
U.S. Representative for Kansas
Why do leftists always think the end of the world is unfolding? These are temporary measures to find and reduce flagrant fraud and the waste of our tax dollars. The park will be just fine. Take deep breaths please
I have always voted Republican and probably nevertheless, I find comments like yours to be incredibly ignorant. These cuts have absolutely nothing to do with waste or fraud. They are indiscriminate layoffs made across the board without regard to performance or staffing needs.
Probationary employees are just told to go home without cause. Probationary employees are not slackers, and they are not evenly represented throughout an agency. Most are recent hires whom have spent several years in seasonal positions before being selected for a permanent post. Some have been working for years and were recently selected for promotion, which put them in a probationary status. So now, the govt is keeping those who were passed over, and letting go the cream of the crop.
It also appears that the agencies are going to have to recall all the recent employees that were layed off, and put them back to work with backpack for the time off. Musk essentially paid them to go home for two or three weeks. Talk about a huge waste of taxpayer dollars
Now, each agency will have to follow the laws regarding reductions in force that were passed by previously elected representatives of the taxpayers. Cabinet secretaries, who were appointed by Trump and confirmed by the senate will do their jobs and cut however much of each department Trump wants and has the authority to dissolve without congressional approval. As everyone knew, neither Musk nor OPM had the authority to order cuts and firings.
Some of the employees let go in a RIF will be the same, but some wont. Agencies will offer VERA/VCIP followed by RIF procedures. The secretary and staff will determine where cuts can be made with the least harm. Then, 60 day notices will be given to those in positions being eliminated. States will also be given 60 day notice for significant layoffs, just like private companies have to do.
The govt has done this numerous times and has procedures in place. Over 200,000 positions were eliminated in the Clinton and Bush years with very few issues. Goofy Musk just tried to cut 25,000 and made a complete mess of it. He needs to leave it to those who know what they are doing.
well said…agree 100%..they (Elon and Trump) made a mess of it like everything else they are doing
Boy oh boy. I agreed with you til the last paragraph. This administration has no clue how to do policy driven RIFs nor do they care. All they know is cut and slash and the secretaries our Republican Congress approved out of fear will do exactly what he tells them to. Project 2025! Voters got us into this mess and voters, if we survive, will have to get us out.
Our country is broke. Keep cutting Trump And Musk! It’s people like this that push a community into debt and then complain when they can’t keep doing it.
Leftists???? Is that some feeble attempt at an insult? I recall Matthew Wells as being a registered Republican!!! Did you know that In 2023, national park visitors spent an estimated $26.4 billion in local gateway regions, supporting 415,000 jobs and contributing $55.6 billion to the U.S. economy? Trump does NOT want you to know that! But they are NOT wasteful nor are they fraudulent!!!….What is wasteful and horrendous though is Trumps ultimate plan to allow drilling, fracking, mining and even selling some of the land of the National Parks to the fossil fuel and mining industry in the future. He does not care about the environment or preserving nature for people to enjoy and wildlife to thrive for our future generations. It is all about money for he and his billionaire friends to get from the parks right now to pay for their massive tax cuts! Have you visited the National Parks? They are a treasure and need to be preserved for everyone. That takes Park Rangers and many employees! But I forget you “rightists” (or as I call you, cultists) have no regard for people or the future of our children and grandchildren. In your own words…”They will be just fine”…
And I find your comments insulting – “but I forget you “rightists” (or as I call you, cultists)” both sides – BOTH are ridiculous in my opinion. To group everyone together ONLY from the selection of their political preference is pure ignorance – on BOTH sides. Shows true ignorance, and part of the root cause of our current state. Rather than place blame on a specific political affiliation, why not try going to the specific source. I do support Trump and Vance – I DO NOT NOT support everything is happening. I did not vote for them because I am a Republican – I think Biden was a disaster, but not because he was a Democrat. Kamala was not even a contender – not because she was a Democrat. Get off the political crap game and do something to make positive changes…calling people out on social media and throwing names out changes nothing. Be a better person.
77 percent of Bourbon county voters, voted for a 34 time convicted felon, an insurrectionist, and a sexual offender.
In the privacy of a voting booth, voted for hatred, recisism and bigotry.
I wonder why that is? I don’t think that many of those people (77%) voted for any of those things…If you think previous administrations are not guilty of any of those things, you are blind – you just don’t see it. YOU only see what you WANT to see. BOTH the Democratic and Republican parties are flawed in our current state of government will not change without commitment from both sides for bipartisanship – they are not here for you and I, nor other citizens of the United States, don’t think that Trump is the only one.
The National Parks Service funding cuts took place July 2024. This is according to National Parks Conservation Association press release July 24, 2024. They may not know as much as Matt Wells though.
I’m going to guess you are one of the 77 percent.