1. United States
2. N.Y.
3. Letter

The Trump administration's proposal to close 34 National Park Service (NPS) offices across the country, including the office at the San Antonio Missions National Historic Park, is deeply concerning. These offices play a vital role in preserving our nation's cultural heritage and protecting priceless historical artifacts for future generations. The San Antonio Missions National Historic Park holds profound significance as the only Unesco World Heritage site in Texas. It encompasses five 18th-century Spanish colonial missions that represent the merging of European and Indigenous cultures, shaping the unique identity of South Texas. Closing its law enforcement facility would jeopardize the safeguarding of invaluable artifacts from this pivotal era. Furthermore, the targeted facilities house millions of irreplaceable archaeological artifacts from numerous national park sites, including the Southeast Archeological Center in Florida. Losing these climate-controlled storage spaces could lead to the irreversible loss of our shared historical treasures. While fiscal responsibility is essential, the minuscule portion of the federal budget allocated to national parks pales in comparison to their immense economic and cultural contributions. These parks generate over $55 billion annually and support hundreds of thousands of jobs across the country. We urge you to reconsider this shortsighted proposal and prioritize the preservation of our national parks and the invaluable historical resources they safeguard. These sites are not merely tourist attractions but living repositories of our collective heritage, which we have a sacred duty to protect for generations to come.