Olympic Peninsula braces for uncertain summer amid federal workforce challenges, Canadian travel decline [Video]

PORT ANGELES, Wash. — Business owners and tourism leaders on the Olympic Peninsula are anticipating an unpredictable summer season as federal workforce reductions and international tariffs threaten to impact tourism at one of Washington’s most treasured destinations.

This winter, 1,000 seasonal national park workers were laid off. That included some of Washington state’s national parks like Olympic National Park. In March, a judge ordered the Trump administration to reinstate those workers. However, that could delay the process of getting ready for the busy summer season, according to the National Parks Conservation Association. 

“Everyone needs to know what to expect, and no one knows anything right now,” Northwest regional director of the NPCA Rob Smith said. “The parks already start from an understaffed position.”

The National Parks Conservation Association has expressed concern about visitor experiences at national parks …