The interior department announced last week the firing of 2,300 probationary employees, including roughly 1,000 National Park Service staff sparking backlash from many groups concerned for the further depletion of NPS staffing at a time when parks are already understaffed and gateway communities are struggling to keep businesses open.

The Center for Western Priorities Deputy Director Aaron Weiss called the staffing cuts "heartless."

“These terminations are foolish, heartless, and do nothing to make the government more efficient. They will, however endanger parks, communities, water, and wildlife across the country," he said. "Firing the next generation of America’s park rangers, scientists and land managers is a recipe for literal disaster."

Weiss worries the cuts could result in overflowing latrines, polluted streams or deadly wildfires.

"Doug Burgum is already leaving a path of destruction across America’s parks and public land,” he said.

The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) is demanding the Trump administration put an end to devastating staffing cuts that will wreak havoc on the National Park System. In a prepared statement, the organization with 1.6 million members said last week’s cuts will leave parks understaffed, facing tough decisions about operating hours, public safety and resource protection.

"Staffing cuts of this magnitude will have devastating consequences for parks and communities. We are concerned about smaller parks closing visitor center doors and larger parks losing key staff including wastewater treatment operators," said Theresa Pierno, president and CEO for the NPCA. "Slashing staff could have a ripple effect on gateway businesses and communities that depend on parks for survival."

Kristen Brengel, NPCA senior vice president for government affairs, said the administration "used no logic" in firing the employees.

"This is completely indiscriminate. They are not looking at what these folks do. They are just slashing the jobs," Brengel said Friday. "And the result of this from what we have found out already are that some of the people on their probationary period have jobs like wastewater treatment operators. These are the people who keep parks from smelling like sewers. Several big parks had these positions in a probationary period and will lose these people today."

The Department of the Interior is exempting 5,000 seasonal positions under the current hiring freeze just as visitors are planning their spring break and summer vacations to national parks. Exempting National Park Service seasonal staff from the federal hiring freeze means parks can fill some visitor services positions. However, there is a very short window to secure positions before peak seasons kick in and many seasonal workers already started or have found jobs, unsure of what the season would hold for them.