In case anyone still imagines that DOGE’s activities are about saving the Treasury money, consider what they are doing with our national parks. According to Michigan State University, for every dollar spent on national parks, they earn almost four dollars in return; more, when spending in surrounding areas, generating taxes, are considered. The MSU report was issued before this year’s record attendance — and record fees, sales, and lodge income.

Foreign visitors make up a large part of that tourist bonanza. On my visits to parks, the Asians, especially Japanese, and Europeans, especially Germans, seemed to outnumber Americans. That is all foreign money entering OUR economy.

DOGE is slashing and firing in all our national parks. Discouragingly long lines—miles long at Yosemite and Yellowstone — are now the norm. There are too few rangers and staff to maintain park tourist areas or help or protect visitors. Think of the money we will save as visitation rates plummet like the stock market. After all, for every dollar we cut, we are only losing four more.

Then there are all those foreign visitors and their money. Now, a growing number of countries are issuing travel advisories against the USA. After all, we are arresting people for trivial visa irregularities, and foreign news is pointing out how people are being snatched off the streets and sent to horrible prisons in places like El Salvador. Who wants to risk it, especially as our best attractions, our national parks, are all but being shut down.

It is not about the money, obviously. A cynical person might think it is really about all that lumber and grazing land, all that rare game to hunt, or even mining and drilling leases.

Here’s a prediction. Next year, when the national parks fail to show a profit due to the DOGE cuts, they will be shut down, and the land released for development.

Bill Gillmore

Columbus