Government Neglect Leads to Unpaid Labor by Yosemite Workers for Weeks, Later Resolved by Hiring Them
In the heart of the United States, Yosemite National Park has been facing a challenging season due to staffing shortages and pay delays for its seasonal workers. The root of the problem can be traced back to early 2025, when federal budget cuts led to the termination of about 1,000 National Park Service (NPS) employees across the country, including 10 full-time employees at Yosemite [2][3].
This drastic reduction in permanent NPS staff caused chaos in payroll and human resources systems, resulting in delays in the hiring and payroll processing of seasonal workers. Consequently, more than 50 seasonal workers at Yosemite volunteered for the park service before being paid later in the summer, working for up to six weeks without any compensation [1][3][4][5].
The park ultimately onboarded three workers at different times, from early to late June, after they volunteered for weeks. However, not all seasonal workers at Yosemite were offered the opportunity to be paid by The Great Basin Institute [6]. Some employees were asked to work as volunteers while waiting to be put on the federal payroll, with the option to work at least 32 hours a week to stay in Yosemite housing for free until they could be officially hired [7].
The park service prohibits seasonal employees from volunteering for positions "similar to their paid work" outside of the season to prevent exploitation and ensure compliance with federal labor laws [8]. By asking volunteers to work in different jobs than the ones they were later paid to do, the park service may not have violated federal labor laws [9].
The situation has left some seasonal workers feeling exploited [10]. Parks across the West are currently under strain and struggling with staffing, with Yosemite depending on seasonal workers to perform a variety of jobs from May through October [11]. The requests to volunteer could harm the park, as experienced workers might be less likely to agree to work without pay [12].
Since January, the amount of permanent staff across the National Park Service has declined by 24% [13]. This staffing crisis has caused employees to assume additional duties for which they were not trained, increasing strain on both personnel and park resources [2][3]. As the busy season continues, Yosemite and other parks in the West are working tirelessly to address these challenges and ensure a smooth operation for visitors.
[1] National Park Service seasonal workers faced pay delays due to federal budget cuts [2] Federal budget cuts lead to staffing shortages and pay delays at Yosemite National Park [3] Yosemite National Park seasonal workers speak out about pay delays [4] Seasonal workers at Yosemite National Park worked for up to six weeks without pay [5] No backpay for Yosemite National Park seasonal workers who volunteered [6] The Great Basin Institute hires and pays a few seasonal workers at Yosemite [7] Yosemite seasonal workers offered the option to volunteer for housing [8] Park service prohibits seasonal employees from volunteering for similar work [9] Park service may not have violated labor laws by asking volunteers to work in different jobs [10] Some seasonal workers at Yosemite feel exploited [11] Yosemite depends on seasonal workers [12] Requests to volunteer could harm the park [13] National Park Service staffing declines by 24%
The financial difficulties at Yosemite National Park, stemming from early 2025 federal budget cuts, led to the termination of permanent National Park Service (NPS) employees and subsequent pay delays for seasonal workers. As a result, some seasonal workers were asked to volunteer before being put on the federal payroll, working uncompensated for up to six weeks.
