Approximately 222,000 job cuts have occurred since the start of 2025, setting a new record as the largest total of job reductions since 2009. For environmental and park ranger jobs, about 750 employees who work for United States National Parks were fired.

Here in Tennessee, the layoffs took a toll on the Smoky Mountains and the Cumberland Gap National Historic Parks.

According to Bill Wade, the executive director of the Association of National Park Rangers, there were approximately 12 firings, and possibly more, from the Great Smoky Mountains and four from Cumberland Gap.

“I don’t know specifically from these parks other than we heard that the trail crew in the Smokies had lost half of its staff, but generally across the NPS, two functions hit the hardest were interpretation/education (visitor center operations, ranger-led programs) and fee collectors (entrance stations),” Wade said.

According to NPS.gov, interpreters assist visitors by adding their own historical and educational knowledge to increase the connections between the trails and the visitors’ experience. 

NPS.gov also states, “Interpreters come from many different backgrounds and have different educational journeys. Some study history or archeology.”

Nevaeh Casteel, a senior at the University of Tennessee, was laid off at the Cumberland Gap. Casteel’s major is history with a concentration in African studies, so her primary role within the park was to enhance Cumberland’s trails with Black culture and history. 

Casteel shared her initial reaction when she received the determination letter.

“I literally just spiraled in complete shock,” Casteel said. “It felt in that moment like my whole world had shattered.” 

Casteel was involved in the pathways program available to current students, offering a plethora of occupational openings within the parks.

“The name suggests it allows students or recent graduates the recent opportunity to be federal employees as long as they are in school and is the pathway to your permanent job in the federal workforce,” Casteel said.

Cumberland gap was a vital location for Casteel’s incorporation of Black history into the trails. 

“We have westward expansion, and the gap served as a gateway for that — so Black history in the park broader represents the implications of spreading settlement west,” Casteel said.

Regarding the reason behind Casteel’s and several other park employees’ firings, the determination letter from the U.S. Department of the Interior said, “The Department determined that you have failed to demonstrate fitness or qualifications for continued employment because your subject matter knowledge, skills, and abilities do not meet the Department’s current needs, and it is necessary and appropriate to terminate, during the trial period, your appointment to the position of Student Trainee (Park Guide), at Middlesboro, Kentucky, within the National Park Service.”

Yet, Casteel believes the reason for her firing — performance — is inaccurate.

“Because I had been there such a short time, I had not even been evaluated for my performance yet,” Casteel said. “When I asked my employer about it, it had nothing to do with my performance, and it had nothing to do with everyone else’s performance.”

As this raised an ethical concern, there are several questions regarding the multiple firings and the correlation of diversity, equity and inclusion challenges. Casteel shared her fears about the layoff since she was one of the Black employees at the park.

“I felt as though me being fired may have been in relation to this uprise in DEI hiring. I don’t think they are going to outwardly say that — just because, more recently, departments are encouraging more diversity in all aspects.” 

Casteel said she wants to give the National Park Service the benefit of the doubt and thinks in her case specifically, it may not have been due to discriminatory reasons but could be related to the broader firings.

According to Casteel, the firing did not come as a total surprise as she received the determination letter through email in January titled ‘fork in the road’ encouraging people to quit. Other members of her work also received this letter which explained that those who quit by a certain day would receive full benefits until September 2025.

“I could tell that the ‘fork in the road’ email was a threat 100%,” Casteel said. “I did not take that bribery because I did not think that it would be targeted towards me.” 

Unfortunately, as Wade warned, Casteel will likely not be the last to go, as more firings will come before summer. 

Recognizing that this news may alarm employees, Casteel provided guidance on coping with the unknown.

“My piece of advice would be that this is the perfect time to lean on your support and the people around you,” Casteel said. “Be vulnerable and share your story.”

The Beacon contacted the Cumberland Gap Region for a comment, but they did not respond.