President Biden Proposes $3.8 Billion Budget for the National Park Service in Fiscal Year 2024

This news story about President Biden’s $3.8 billion National Park Service budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2024 is based on a March 9, 2023, National Park Service press release. You can read the original release here.

On Thursday, March 9, 2023, the Biden-Harris Administration released the President’s Budget for Fiscal Year 2024.

The budget request includes $3.8 billion for the National Park Service (NPS), which is an increase of $200 million compared to last year.

The National Park Service budget for Fiscal Year 2024 would prioritize the advancement of racial equity and support for underserved communities, as well as the conservation of natural resources, using science to inform decisions, and tackling the climate crisis in the National Park System.

Biden Proposes $3.8 Billion Budget for the National Park Service in 2024

“The President’s request proposes investments essential for the NPS’s continued success in its second century, while remaining committed to the daily mission of ensuring that all Americans can access, enjoy, and learn in every national park,” said NPS Director Chuck Sams.

“This budget supports and strengthens our commitment to the public, from supporting new parks to connecting with communities and Tribes to improving in park and digital experiences for visitors,” Sams said.

The National Park Service not only serves a vital role safeguarding irreplaceable natural wonders and connecting Americans to our past and each other, but is also a critical driver of economic activity for small businesses and communities across the nation.

For every $1 Congress invests in national parks, visitor spending returns over $10 to the U.S. economy.

2024 National Park Service Budget Allows For Numerous Investments

The FY 2024 budget request for National Park Service will make critical investments in the following aspects related to management across the national parks.

National Park Conservation

The FY 2024 National Park Service budget addresses critical challenges of our time to preserve our lands and waters for future generations to use and enjoy.

Increasing operational budgets will improve boots on the ground capacity for science and natural resource management activities and help protect the nation’s treasures from 21^st-century threats like climate change.

Key conservation investments include:  

• Expanding youth corps programs that create enriching jobs for young people.
• Supporting scientific and research collaboration through Research Learning Centers.
• Creating permanent capacity to respond to and recover from natural disasters.
• Assessing climate change vulnerabilities so parks and infrastructure can adapt. 
• Investing in charging equipment and infrastructure for zero emission vehicles.

Racial Justice and Equity in the Parks

Executive Order 13985 – Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities, directs federal agencies to operate in an environment that advances equity for all, including people of color and others who have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality.

The FY 2024 budget for the National Park Service demonstrates the agency’s commitment to presenting the complete story of America in which everyone can see themselves reflected in national parks.

This involves respecting and strengthening Indigenous connections, enhancing our nation-to-nation relationships, and fully upholding our trust and treaty responsibilities; and to making parks inviting for all visitors and employees by placing accessibility on equal footing with other important facility and programmatic considerations.

Targeted investments within this budget proposal will:

• Fund initial costs for parks recently added to the National Park System (Blackwell School, New Philadelphia, and Brown v. Board expansion) and ensure funding is available to more rapidly start-up new parks that may be designated.
• Better serve Tribal Nations and Indigenous people by hiring Tribal liaisons and subsistence managers, supporting Tribal co-stewardship efforts, and funding the Tribal heritage grant program.
• Support implementation of the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience (NATIVE) Act.
• Help preserve the stories of the cultures and history across America through the Japanese American World War II History Network and the United States African American Burial Grounds Preservation Program.
• Address transportation barriers from underserved communities to national parks as part of efforts to expand national parks visitation to all communities.

Park Capacity and Administrative Priorities

Between FY 2011 and FY 2022, the NPS has lost almost 19 percent of its base-funded staffing. Over the same period, more than 30 parks have been added to the National Park System and visitation has grown by more than 30 million.

The National Park Service budget proposal supports basic operational capacity needs at all parks, rivers, and trails and addresses staffing needs for new and additional responsibilities.

Modest funding increases in the FY 2024 budget request provide much needed support for the United States Park Police and other law enforcement and investigative services. The proposed budget also invests in essential modernization of information technology systems and visitor services on digital platforms.

Specific investments for park capacity and administrative priorities include:

• Funding facility operation and maintenance personnel to care for the Denali Park Road, ensuring people can continue to access the park into the future.
• Establishing a law enforcement ranger program at Fort Smith National Historic Site.
• Enhancing visitor services and education programs.
• Meeting increased printing costs for park maps and information resources.
• Continuing efforts to enhance digital tools that better serve visitors by reducing congestion and improving customer experience.
• Investing in IT modernization needs.
• Supporting visitor services for America’s 250th commemoration  

FY 2024 National Park Service Budget Includes Funding For Various Initiatives and Operations

Funding is highlighted by fund source below.

Operations of the National Park System

This is the primary operations funding for the National Park Service.

• $3.2 billion, representing a $266.3 million increase from the FY 2023 enacted budget:
  • $983.0 million for facility operations and maintenance  
  • $697.3 million for park support
  • $509.6 million for resource stewardship
  • $457.7 million for park protection
  • $300.3 million for visitor services
  • $241.8 million for external administrative costs

Centennial Challenge

The Centennial Challenge program is instrumental in garnering and fostering strong partnerships. All federal funds must be matched on at least a 1:1 basis.  

• $15 million, which maintains this funding at the FY 2023 enacted level.

Funding For National Recreation and Preservation

This supports local community efforts to preserve natural and cultural resources.

• $95.2 million, representing a 2.7 million increase from the FY 2023 enacted budget.

Historic Preservation Fund

Supports Historic Preservation Offices in states, territories, and Tribal lands to preserve historically and culturally significant sites and provides competitive grants to other entities.

• $177.9 million, representing a $26.6 million reduction from FY 2023 due to the removal of congressionally directed funding provided in 2023:
  • $62.2 million for grants to State Historic Preservation Offices.
  • $30.3 million for competitive grants to preserve historic sites that tell the story of the struggle for African American civil rights and equal rights in America.
  • $26.5 million for Save America’s Treasures grants to support preservation of nationally significant sites and collections.
  • $23 million to Tribal Historic Preservation Offices.
  • $12.5 million for Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants for historic preservation projects that stimulate economic growth in rural areas.
  • $11 million for grants-in-aid to Historically Black Colleges and Universities to support preservation of historic structures on HBCU campuses.
  • $10 million for Semiquincentennial Preservation Grants to support restoration and preservation of sites that commemorate the founding of the nation.
  • $2.5 million for Tribal Heritage Grants.

Funding For Construction in the Parks

Funds construction projects, equipment replacement, management, planning, operations, and special projects.  

• $286.6 million, which is a $46.8 million increase from FY 2023 enacted:
  • $127.8 million for line-item construction.
  • $18.3 million for field communications modernization.
  • $15.9 million for zero emission vehicle deployment, charging capacity, and related infrastructure.
  • $14.9 million to improve and expand NPS employee housing.
  • $7 million to address transportation barriers to parks from underserved communities.
  • $4.1 million for climate vulnerability studies.
  • $4 million for remediation of abandoned mineral lands.

For more information on the President’s FY 2024 Budget, you can visit the following link: https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/.