August 25th, 2026Celebrating 110 Years of Our National Parks

Today marks the 110th anniversary of the National Park Service, created by President Woodrow Wilson to protect some of the most treasured places in our country and ensure they belong to all Americans. Our national parks and public lands are part of our shared identity. They are literally the anvil on which our collective identity was forged. They preserve the stories of generations who came before us, give everyone a place to explore and connect with the outdoors, and support communities across the country. U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, who led the effort to designate White Sands as its second national park, hikes with students from Columbia Elementary School at White Sands National Park, April 24, 2019. New Mexico is home to 15 national park sites , from the rolling dunes of White Sands to the depths of Carlsbad Caverns and the grasslands of Valles Caldera. These places are a source of pride for New Mexicans and a reminder of what we can accomplish when we protect the lands that belong to all of us. U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, tours Carlsbad Caverns National Park with Superintendent Doug Neighbor, July 6, 2021. They are also an economic engine. In 2024 alone, visitors to New Mexico’s national park sites spent $190 million in communities near parks, supporting 1,880 jobs and generating more than $242 million in economic activity. But as the National Park Service celebrates 110 years, our national parks face a $24 billion maintenance backlog and severe staffing shortages. The Trump administration has forced out thousands of employees, proposed deep cuts to the agency, and taken steps to erase history at our parks. Instead of addressing these needs and keeping visitors safe and our parks accessible, the administration is making hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars available for the President's vanity projects. We should be investing in the national parks that belong to all of us — not a golden ballroom for the President. This week, I encourage everyone to get outside, visit a national park or public land, and help protect these national treasures for generations to come. Yours sincerely, MARTIN HEINRICH United States Senator