As summer gets closer, many American families will take to the road for their great vacation. For many that means going on a fishing trip, maybe it means camping somewhere away, or just enjoying somewhere not as developed. I mean with everything going on, being able to get away from people is extremely important.

Well, maybe you won’t get to do that. With the change in leadership comes many executive orders, one of which is the unleashing American Energy Act. To put it bluntly, it says that federal lands are now open for something other than your family vacation or hunting trips. To pick a key sentence it says, “encourage energy exploration and production on federal lands” (Whitehouse.gov, 2025). How much is that house going to be when your picturesque view is blocked by some oil rigs or a huge mining pit? That fracking or mining operation in Yellowstone will make for such a nice postcard. Those big bucks and elk need land, so I hope you’re ok with your small racks.

Theres a lot of words in that EO, but of course it’s not written by someone who cares about your family, the water they drink, the air they breathe, or the toxins that will be released in your backyard. It’s written to make you think that conserving the environment has been without benefit. That idea, like many of the things that have come out in the past years, is not true.

Did you know that the national parks contributed $55.6 Billion to the US economy in 2023 and supported 415,000 jobs (NPS, 2024)? That’s not chump change and these are jobs are supported through the parks. So, it’s not actually as much of a detriment as some people would have you think. All those people who visit parks also give money to the local area and economy. Who doesn’t load up at the local stores before they hit the road wherever it might lead?

Beyond the money and jobs, they generate, having those parks and areas protects your family and farms. Tell me which one will support farmland, clean water that flows or toxic sludge and toxins that kill your animals and poison your crops? If you want a quick read on just why you shouldn’t be draining or drilling in your watersheds or aquifers, please read the article at https://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/your-job-or-your-water-watersheds-amid-the-economy-vs-environment-conflict/

As for national security, blaming the national parks is just another example of scapegoating. Instead of blaming national parks and environmental policy, maybe we should look at a far bigger threat to national security, like our very unprotected energy grid.

NPS.gov (2024, August 27). National Parks Contributed Record High $55.6 Billion to U.S. economy, Supported 415,000 Jobs in 2023. Retrieved from https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1207/national-parks-contributed-record-high-$55-6-billion-to-u-s-economy-supported-415-000-jobs-in-2023.htm

Whitehouse.gov (2025) Unleashing American Energy. Retrieved from https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/unleashing-american-energy/