The Trump administration announced Monday it is pulling back the nomination of hospitality industry executive Scott Socha to head the National Park Service, offering no explanation for the decision.
Socha’s nomination had been announced in February amid ongoing turmoil at the park service, which has experienced massive personnel reductions as part of the administration’s efforts to dramatically shrink government agencies.
The park service remains under temporary leadership by acting director Jessica Bowron, who also serves as the agency’s comptroller. Throughout Trump’s previous presidency, the agency operated without a Senate-confirmed leader, relying instead on a succession of interim directors.
Socha currently serves as president for parks and resorts at Delaware North, a Buffalo, New York-based company that holds service contracts with multiple national parks and bills itself as among the globe’s largest private entertainment and hospitality enterprises. When announcing his nomination, a White House representative called Socha “totally qualified” to implement Trump’s vision for America’s park system.
However, environmental advocacy organizations raised concerns about whether Socha’s business background provided adequate preparation for managing hundreds of national parks and monuments spanning from iconic sites like the Statue of Liberty to isolated locations across Utah’s desert regions.
The park service has lost thousands of workers through terminations and departures since Trump returned to office.
“It’s very unfortunate that our parks have gone more than a year without a permanent director at a time when they need strong, steady leadership the most,” said Emily Douce from the National Parks Conservation Association on Monday. She emphasized that the next director must “undo the damage.”
The administration’s budget proposal for the upcoming year calls for reducing park service staff to 9,200 workers, representing nearly a 30% decrease from 2025 employment levels.
Operating funds for the park service would face cuts exceeding $1 billion, dropping to $2.2 billion for the 2027 fiscal year beginning in October.
Congressional lawmakers previously blocked similar reduction proposals for 2026 after park advocates and former agency personnel warned such cuts would essentially dismantle the organization.
The administration has also drawn criticism for removing or planning to eliminate national park displays addressing slavery, climate change, and the suppression of Native American cultures. A federal judge ruled in February that an exhibit about nine enslaved individuals owned by George Washington must be reinstalled at his former Philadelphia residence after the Trump administration removed it.
Government officials justify these actions as eliminating “disparaging” content under Trump’s directive from last year. Critics argue the administration seeks to sanitize American historical narratives.
Under Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s leadership, the park service has implemented a $100 fee for millions of international visitors to major destinations including Yellowstone and Grand Canyon. The agency has also added Trump’s photograph to annual passes for American citizens, prompting legal action from environmental groups claiming the practice violates federal law.
