As left-wing leaders across the country advocate for defunding local police departments, the U.S. Park Police (USPP) is facing a staffing crisis. The agency, responsible for safeguarding national monuments in major cities like Washington, D.C., New York City, and San Francisco, is currently operating at its lowest staffing levels since 1975. According to Ken Spencer, chairman of the United States Park Police Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), the agency had 547 sworn officers in 1975, compared to the current 515 officers.
Spencer expressed concerns about the agency's staffing shortages, citing frequent cancellations of days off and leave, which he believes compromises the safety of officers and the public they serve. Despite years of highlighting critical staffing issues, Congress, the Department of Interior, and the National Park Service have not adequately addressed the crisis.
While some members of Congress support the Parks Police, Spencer noted that the Department of Interior and the National Park Service under the Biden administration have not taken sufficient action to address the staffing concerns. A draft bill in Congress aims to resolve the staffing crisis, but it remains inactive due to neglect from both political parties.
Senator John Barrasso sent a letter to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland demanding more resources for the USPP following a violent protest in July where officers faced inadequate resources to control the situation. The agency made 10 arrests during the protest and is seeking help to identify additional suspects involved in assaulting officers and damaging government property.
The USPP FOP has warned that understaffing not only endangers officers and the public but also puts national landmarks at risk. With just 515 officers nationwide, the agency patrols federal landmarks in major cities and is responsible for maintaining security at locations like Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, New York, where a lack of officers has led to an increase in crime in the surrounding community.
