On Feb. 22, 2025, six people, including Yosemite National Park employee Gavin Carpenter, staged a protest by hanging an upside-down American flag from El Capitan, one of the park’s most iconic landmarks. This act aimed to draw attention to recent staffing cuts at the park due to a federal hiring freeze and cuts. Traditionally, an upside-down American flag is a signal of distress, symbolizing that a nation or institution is facing extreme danger or crises.
The staffing cuts that prompted the protest were a part of a broader federal hiring freeze under President Donald Trump. A key policy change involved terminating park employees who were still on probation. Probation in large corporations is a period meant to allow an employer to terminate an employee who is not performing well or is deemed unsuitable for their position.
However, in the National Park Service – NPS – the probationary period is two years, significantly longer than in most professions, and applies even to the experienced workers transferring from other government agencies, according to the NPS. It is not the same kind of ‘probation’ most commonly thought of. As a result, rangers, emergency personnel and other staff who had been working at the park for months or even over a year were suddenly let go, leaving critical positions unfilled.
In total, over 1,700 NPS employees were laid off as a result of the hiring freeze and probationary terminations, according to the National Park Service. Protesters argued that these cuts put visitor safety and park preservation at risk, as fewer rangers and emergency responders could lead to slower response times and decreased upkeep of trails and facilities, according to the National Parks Conservation Association.
The protests at Yosemite raise several ethical questions about balancing civil disobedience, public land preservation and government policy. On one hand, the protestors’ use of an upside-down flag was a non-violent and symbolic way to express their concerns about staffing cuts. Their actions align with the principles of free speech, especially when advocating for public safety and environmental protection.
Some argue that using a national symbol for distress signal purposes is disrespectful. The American flag carries deep significance, and some may see the act as unpatriotic rather than as a call for help.
It brings into question the responsibility of government agencies to maintain public lands while ensuring the job security of dedicated employees. Is it ethical for the government to cut essential staff positions when these parks rely on their expertise? Should parks be seen as economic assets that need to be managed with an eye toward efficiency, potentially at the expense of maintaining staff levels?
Ultimately, the protest highlights the complex intersection of activism, public services and national identity. It forces the broader conversation about how best to preserve America’s national parks while also respecting the rights of workers and the expectations of visitors.
