What The Proposed Federal Budget Freeze Could Mean For California Camping In The Summer Of 2025

If camping in California is on your summer bucket list, you may want to press the pause button on your plans because parks across the state are facing major challenges in 2025. Ever since President Donald Trump was inaugurated earlier this year, national parks and national forests in the United States have been attempting to cope with a whirlwind of budget and staffing cuts his administration has made. Park personnel fear that they may have to close campgrounds, essential park facilities, and programs. 

In an attempt to shrink the federal government and cut down on the country's sky-high national deficit, the Trump administration created the controversial Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Don't confuse DOGE with an official government department – those can only be created by Congress. It's actually just an advisory committee created via one of Trump's executive orders. It's headed by Elon Musk and a team of young staffers with tech backgrounds, and has faced national scrutiny. Many Americans support a reduction in government spending, but others believe DOGE is acting without transparency, and that Elon Musk is abusing his power since he is not an elected official.

Since its inception, DOGE has impacted the lives of millions of Americans and thousands of people have lost their jobs, including many U.S. Forest Service and national parks employees. Careers in the federal government aren't the only thing on the chopping block – federal funding freezes and staffing shortages could shut down thousands of campsites across the state of California this summer. 

California, along with every other state in the United States, relies on federal funding to operate campgrounds within national forests and national parks. On March 5, 2025 the New York Times reported that 4,000 campsites spread out across 18 different national forests in California may be forced to close this summer. The article was based on information from a United States National Forest Service spreadsheet that was distributed internally in February, shortly after thousands of National Forest Service and National Park Service employees were laid off as part of President Donald Trump's effort to reduce the federal workforce.

The campground closures would be a direct result of the federal budget cuts and lack of appropriate staffing. According to the New York Times, the Forest Service email stated that "unforeseen impacts and changed conditions, as well as financial limitations, may render some sites unsafe, or too challenging to open to full capacity in 2025."

Earlier this year, Explore warned travelers that they may want to avoid camping in Yosemite in 2025, after the park announced it would be shutting down the reservation system for several popular campgrounds. Since then, two backpacker campgrounds within Yosemite have been closed indefinitely. Pacific Crest Trail hikers will also face additional challenges in 2025. The budget cuts have caused 50 weeks of trail maintenance to be canceled, and Kennedy Meadows campground (a major highlight for thru-hikers) may have to close.

The lack of staffing is predicted to negatively impact basic services and amenities within the national forests. The National Forest Service and National Park Service may be unable to pay contractors who maintain the parks, which could lead to the inability to empty human waste in the public bathrooms, decreased trash removal, and difficulty maintaining trails and signage. Without proper trail maintenance, there could be a greater risk of wildfires, which often lead to deadly hiking and camping hazards. The ability to conduct search and rescues may also be diminished.

Some national forests, like Eldorado National Forest near Lake Tahoe, may have to close down their visitor centers, which means that people traveling there could go without important information. It might be harder to get permits for camping, hiking, and collecting firewood. "Almost a dozen visitor centers in Lassen, Shasta Trinity, San Bernardino, and Sequoia were also at risk of closing," the New York Times reported.

To stay updated on current campsite closures and park news, it's a good idea to check the websites for the National Park Service and the National Forest Service regularly. Ensure that you do your research before embarking on a camping trip. There are still a lot of unknowns, and the situation could change throughout the summer.