Trump Nominates Hospitality Executive to Lead National Park Service
President Donald Trump has nominated Scott Socha, an executive from hospitality giant Delaware North, to become the director of the National Park Service. The nomination, announced late Wednesday, comes as the agency faces significant upheaval under the Trump administration.
Background of the Nominee
Scott Socha serves as president for parks and resorts at Delaware North, a privately owned hospitality and entertainment company with over $4 billion in revenue in 2022. Delaware North holds extensive contracts with the National Park Service, providing services in at least six national parks, including Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Shenandoah. Socha has been with the Buffalo, New York-based company since 1999 and will continue in his role there while his nomination is pending Senate confirmation.
Controversial Context of the Nomination
The nomination follows widespread firings within the Park Service as part of efforts by Trump's Republican administration to sharply reduce its size. The administration has also faced criticism for removing or planning to remove national park exhibits about slavery, climate change, and the destruction of Native American culture. Administration officials defend these actions, stating they are removing "disparaging" messages under an order from Trump last year, while critics accuse the administration of attempting to whitewash the nation's history.
Budget Cuts and Employee Losses
Last year, Trump proposed cutting the Park Service's $2.9 billion budget by more than $900 million, a move that park supporters and former employees said would effectively gut the agency. Although lawmakers in Congress blocked these cuts and voted to maintain the service's budget at similar levels to the past two years, the parks have already lost almost a quarter of their employees—more than 4,000 positions—due to firings and other changes since Trump took office, according to the National Parks Conservation Association.
Reactions and Expectations
Theresa Pierno, director of the National Parks Conservation Association, expressed readiness to work with Socha but emphasized that he must reverse course on recent policies. The Park Service has been without a confirmed director for over a year. Pierno stated, "If confirmed, he must put the Park Service’s mission first, stand up for park staff, fill critical vacancies, and halt attacks on our nation’s history. Given Mr. Socha’s years of experience working with the Park Service, we hope he will be that leader."
The White House did not immediately respond to inquiries, referring questions back to the administration. The Senate must now confirm Socha's nomination, a process that will likely draw significant attention given the ongoing controversies surrounding the National Park Service.
