FORT SCOTT — With the advancement of a controversial budget reconciliation bill by the House of Representatives this week, the Fort Scott National Historic Site continues to grapple with federal funding cuts that threaten its operations, staffing, and the economic vitality of the surrounding community.
“They are planning on moving forward with a second round of cuts,” said Matthew Wells, a member of Friends of the Fort, a non-profit organization that provides support to the Fort Scott National Historic Site. Wells is also a Fort Scott Commissioner and has formerly served as mayor.
These cuts, formally referred to as Reductions in Force (RIFs), have already resulted in drastic staff reductions. “We’ve lost upwards of 60% of our staff,” Wells stated. “We currently have just one park ranger.”
Established as a military post in the 1840s and named after General Winfield Scott, Fort Scott played a significant role in U.S. westward expansion. Today, the site preserves 20 historic structures, a parade ground, and restored tallgrass prairie, welcoming around 25,000 tourists annually. Those visitors fuel the local economy through lodging, dining, and retail purchases — revenues now jeopardized by budget cuts.
The bill, which now moves to the U.S. Senate for consideration, eliminates all remaining Inflation Reduction Act funding for the National Park Service, including $267 million designated for staffing.
In total, the president’s budget calls for a historic $1.2 billion in cuts to the NPS, including $900 million from its operating budget and another $158 million from the Historic Preservation Fund. The Fort Scott National Historic Site falls under the umbrella of the NPS.
“The cuts done thus far are unconstitutional and illegal,” Wells said.
Wells noted that some judges have already ruled against aspects of the cuts, even ordering the reinstatement of staff at some sites. Unfortunately, Fort Scott hasn’t been among them.
Some staff members who were let go have already accepted employment elsewhere. Others are fearful of the uncertainty the cuts will bring.
“Most of these positions that were cut are like $35,000-a-year positions. They don’t get into national parks work because they want to get rich. They do it because they love serving people, they love teaching history, and they love taking care of these resources,” Wells said.
The park’s challenges go beyond personnel. A freeze on federal spending has crippled basic operations. “With all government credit cards being limited to $1, vital repairs can no longer be accomplished,” said Wells. Even routine needs like toilet paper and trash collection have been disrupted.
The effects have also been felt in the community. The site’s popular Civil War Days saw attendance slashed nearly in half this year, in part due to the absence of a visiting ranger who typically fires the historic cannon and black powder weapons. “Because of the restrictions placed on the credit cards, they are not allowed to travel,” Wells explained. “All parks used to share resources and travel park-to-park to help out. They’re not allowed to do that anymore.”
“As a city commissioner, I’m upset because that’s my sales tax dollars,” Wells continued. “One of these taxes is used for road repairs and is generated from the purchase of gasoline and things that people purchase when they come to town on a tourism basis. It affects the money we have to fix things in our city.”
IN RESPONSE to the shortfall in staffing, the park is closed two days a week — Wednesdays and Thursdays. “There’s nobody to run the visitors center, so a couple of volunteers from Friends of the Fort have gone through training and work to help keep the center open,” said Wells.
Internal communication within the park has also been stifled.
“The staff are under strict orders from the Office of Personnel Management and Department of the Interior that if they say anything they will be terminated,” Wells revealed. “If they show anybody any documents, they will be terminated. The staff can’t tell me anything.”
