1. United States
2. Fla.
3. Letter

The national parks are a priceless natural and cultural heritage that belong to all Americans. Attempts to cut funding and staffing for the National Park Service undermine its ability to protect these irreplaceable resources and provide safe, enjoyable experiences for visitors. While the parks generate significant economic benefits for gateway communities, their value transcends monetary concerns. These lands were set aside to preserve our natural wonders and historical treasures for the enrichment of present and future generations, not for private exploitation. It is a moral imperative to robustly fund the National Park Service and shield it from profiteering motives that contradict its mission of stewardship for the public good. We call for policies that honor the national parks as a shared inheritance to be cherished, not assets to be liquidated for short-term gain.