Fed Workers Say: Fork Off
Will the Morongo Basin Suffer When Trump’s Administration Slashes Jobs and Services at Joshua Tree National Park?
Update, February 6, 10 am, PST: Resignation plan delayed. U.S. District Judge George A. O’Toole Jr., a Clinton appointee, suspended a deadline for federal workers to apply for a delayed resignation offer until at least Monday afternoon, February 10, when a hearing will be held. The offer had been set to expire at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, February 6. More at Government Executive news.
Editors note: The Desert Trumpet remains committed to local news coverage. However, given the rapid pace of recent national events we feel it’s necessary to also cover federal policy changes that have significant local impact.
Could Joshua Tree National Park shut down? Or be left wide open for the kind of rootin’ tootin’ chaotic destruction that took place during the 2018-2019 government shutdowns and the 2020 pandemic lockdown? What effects will federal layoffs have on the Mojave Desert’s crown jewel?
Several threats to Joshua Tree National Park have arisen in the last several days as Elon Musk takes control of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and seeks to clear out the federal workforce, sending emails to full-time workers that require them to resign or stay in their positions without assurance that they will retain their jobs or their benefits. The legality of Musk’s actions are questionable.1 As you read this, new developments will likely take place. We will try to keep you updated.
The National Park’s Benefits the Morongo Basin
According to a report to the Twentynine Palms City Council in late 2023, Joshua Tree Superintendent Jane Rodgers said that the park attracts more than 3 million visitors a year—who bring $171 million to the Morongo Basin and support more than 2,000 local jobs. She noted at a public event this weekend that there are 100 full-time staff at the park, dozens of seasonal employees, and numerous volunteers who help keep visitors safe and protect the park’s resources. Erosion of visitors’ experience in the park could have grave consequences for the region’s economy.
Personnel Cuts Including Deferred Resignations May Decimate Full Time Park Staff
Full-time National Park Service staff nationwide—along with more than 2 million other federal employees—received an email from the Office of Personnel Management under the behest of Elon Musk’s ad hoc Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) with the subject line, “A Fork in the Road.”2 The first email was sent on January 28. A second email on Monday, February 3 contained a FAQ on the deferred resignation program. The veracity and legality of both documents has been questioned by several organizations and news sources3.
“Whether you travel, relax at home, or explore new opportunities, you’ll continue receiving your full government pay and benefits,” DOGE, implementing Musk’s directive, wrote. The OPM’s website explains it further:
If you choose to remain in your current position, we thank you for your renewed focus on serving the American people to the best of your abilities and look forward to working together as part of an improved federal workforce. At this time, we cannot give you full assurance regarding the certainty of your position or agency but should your position be eliminated you will be treated with dignity and will be afforded the protections in place for such positions.
This program begins effective January 28 and is available to all federal employees until February 6. If you resign under this program, you will retain all pay and benefits regardless of your daily workload and will be exempted from all applicable in-person work requirements until September 30, 2025 (or earlier if you choose to accelerate your resignation for any reason).
As outlined by the Lawfare blog, the email introduced a new program called “deferred resignation,” which offers employees the opportunity to announce their future resignation effective Sept. 30, 2025. In exchange, the program promises employees full pay and benefits and exemption from return-to-work programs until Sept. 30.
Does DOGE have the legal authority to offer the resignation deal or guarantee payment through September? Per the constitution, Congress controls the budget. Because Congress has only funded the government until March 14, it is not likely that full pay and benefits will be available and a possible government shutdown or denial of the payment deal means no one gets paid. And given members of the administration’s track record of reneging on agreements and nonpayment of employees, some park staff4 are understandably skeptical that any conditions outlined will be honored. This blog, “If You Can Keep It,” has a helpful breakdown of the terms of the various emails that have been sent.
The Desert Trumpet requested clarification from the Park Service and received this statement:
On the record from a Department spokesperson: The Department of the Interior and the National Park Service are implementing President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order across the federal civilian workforce.
On background: As stated in the EO [Executive Order], within 90 days OMB and DOGE "shall submit a plan to reduce the size of the Federal Government’s workforce through efficiency improvements and attrition." Once a plan to reduce the federal workforce through efficiency improvements and attrition is developed, Departmental leadership will work closely with its bureaus to execute personnel decisions in a manner that best supports the mission of the Department and the policy priorities of the Administration.
Seasonal Park Staff at Risk
The Los Angeles Times reports that seasonal workers at Yosemite, Death Valley, and Joshua Tree have received emails saying that their offers for the 2025 season had been “rescinded.” Why is this a problem? Seasonal employees provide many basic visitor services from fee collection to traffic management, to search and rescue, law enforcement, and resource management—things like asking visitors not to sling their hammocks from Joshua Trees, put out that campfire, and try to keep the vault toilets clean.
A source in the Park Service has told the Desert Trumpet that seasonals currently employed will serve their full terms with the park. Seasonal staff due to start in the next two months—the busy spring break season in the park—have had their offers rescinded. Not only is this devastating for managing the heavy load of visitors, but it also deprives people new in their careers a chance to serve at what has been called “America’s best idea.”
Research Projects Imperiled
Many employees of the park are paid by grants coming from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). This is money appropriated by Congress and the executive branch’s authority to freeze these funds is being challenged in the courts. These grants include projects like maintaining a seed bank of Mojave desert plants to ensure resilience in the face of climate change, closing dangerous mines and installing bat gates, and ecosystem restoration projects following fires like last year’s Geology Tour Road fire and destruction caused by off-road vehicles.
What Can We Do To Support Park Staff?
Morongo Basin residents are understandably concerned about many challenges to usual government processes that have poured out of the administration during its first two weeks in office. Organizations representing the National Park Service suggest contacting your congressional representatives.
You can find your representative here. Morongo Basin area residents can call Representative Jay Obernolte at his Hesperia office (760-247-1815)5 and say something like:
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I’m deeply concerned about the effect the deferred resignations offered by the Office of Personnel Management will have on Joshua Tree National Park. Our dedicated public servants work to protect the park’s resources and ensure visitor safety. The three million plus visitors to Joshua Tree National Park bring in more than $171 million to Basin communities and support approximately 2,000 local jobs. I respectfully request that you advocate that employment be reinstated for park staff and that funds be restored—and that any changes take place with safeguards put in place by our Founders. Thank you.
Associated Federation of Government Employees FAQ on OPM’s Deferred Resignation Program.
This was the subject line to Twitter staff when Musk purchased and reorganized the social media company. Twitter’s market cap in 2020 $43 billion before acquisition by Musk. X no longer trades publicly, and its value is allegedly 71% less than when he purchased it.
“Separating truth from fiction on the “fork in the road”, If You Can Keep It, published by Protect Democracy, February 4, 2025.
”The Many Legal Questions Surrounding Musk's DOGE Efforts” The Wall Street Journal, February 4, 2025
”Some GOP officials say Trump administration's federal workers buyout program is illegal,” CBS News, February 2, 2025
”OPM ‘deferred resignation’ offer sparks flurry of legal questions,” Federal News Network, January 29, 2025
Sources spoke off the record and requested anonymity.
Representative Obernolte’s Washington DC line is 202-225-5861.
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Thanks for including Obernolte's #. I called and registered my discontent, and pointed out (though I wish I didn't have to...) that the Park's status is not a partisan concern. Our city encompasses a wide variety of political views and opinions, but everyone I have ever connected with in my 8 years as a resident cares about the desert, and cares whether visitors are afforded free reign to ruin these public lands.
Thanks so much for this coverage. A note: For clarity (and especially for Morongo VALLEY residents!) please use Morongo BASIN instead of Morongo Valley when referring to the whole area. (See the paragraph titled What Can We Do To Support Park Staff?) Thanks for your ongoing great work. I'm glad to be a financial supporter and hope others realize the value and join in.