The National Park Service (NPS) is requesting $2.1 billion for its 2026 operations. NPS’s prior budget for 2025 was $3.3 billion. NPS has identified cuts it can make to the costs for its core operations as well as programs outside the National Park System. The largest cuts (approximately $900 million) are to the operational costs of the agency and the historic preservation fund (approximately ($157 million). NPS is also proposing to shift funds from acquiring land pursuant to the Land and Water Conservation Fund to address the Department of Interior’s deferred maintenance needs which currently total $33 billion. In its summary of its budget request, NPS states that “[t]he Federal estate has become bloated” and the agency should not be acquiring more lands given its extensive deferred maintenance. The requested budget seeks approximately the same funds for NPS law enforcement as in 2024 and notes that these personnel “provide critical services” to ensure visitor and employee safety as well as protection of resources.