U.S. National Parks Face a $35 Billion Maintenance Crisis

The National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund, established by the 2020 Great American Outdoors Act, provided $9 billion for critical repairs across federal agencies. The impact was visible from the rebuilt seawall at Washington’s Tidal Basin to renovated campgrounds in Utah’s Zion National Park. These projects addressed decades of neglect, upgrading everything from water systems in Montana to snowmobile bridges in Wisconsin, while supporting over 17,000 jobs in the 2025 fiscal year alone.

Despite this progress, the fund expired in August 2025, leaving federal land managers struggling to maintain 250,000 assets, including historic sites, schools, and utility systems. Economically, the stakes are high: the outdoor recreation industry contributes over $1 trillion to the national economy, and crumbling infrastructure directly limits visitor access and local tourism revenue. With a $35 billion maintenance backlog currently on the books, bipartisan legislation—S.1547 and H.R. 9250—is now pending before Congress to extend the restoration fund for another five years. Supporters argue that without immediate reauthorization and reliable annual appropriations, the nation risks losing the very sites it intends to celebrate during this landmark anniversary year.