The National Park Service learned yesterday that seasonal employees for the agency have been deemed exempt from a federal hiring freeze.
Glacier National Park usually hires about 350 summer employees to manage the park’s campgrounds, serve as rangers and conduct scientific studies and projects.
Park spokesperson Lauren Alley says until Monday, it was unclear if or when the park would be able to hire the people who make it run during its abbreviated tourist season.
“We are just thrilled we are moving forward with the summer season,” she said. President Donald Trump imposed the federal hiring freeze soon after taking office.
In the following weeks, certain categories of federal employees — law enforcement officers, summer wildland firefighters, and recently, seasonal temporary employees with the U.S. Forest Service — were deemed exempt.
Alley says the exemption does not extend to permanent park employees.
Glacier National Park has experienced back-to-back seasons of record-breaking visitation. Alley says it’s too soon to say how the delay in hiring could impact the park’s operations this coming summer.