Mass Resignations From National Park Service Advisory Board

Nine out of 12 members of the National Park Service advisory board resigned this week, saying that the Department of the Interior "showed no interest in learning about or continuing to use the forward-thinking agenda of science," among other claims.

1 minute read

January 20, 2018, 11:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Yellowstone National Park

Lee Prince / Shutterstock

"Three-quarters of the seats on the U.S. National Park Service advisory board are vacant following a mass resignation Monday night, citing Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke's unwillingness to meet with them," reports Scott Neuman.

Led by former Alaska Gov. Tony Knowles, nine of the panel's 12 members resigned. "The bipartisan panel was appointed by President Barack Obama and the terms of all members who quit were set to expire in May," according to Neuman.

Knowles presented Zinke with a letter of resignation detailing the board's complaints. Knowles shared more details of the reasoning behind the resignations in an article Alaska Public Media. An article by Juliet Eilperin for The Washington Post also provides more details.

The mass resignation followed closely on an exposé in The New Yorker detailing the "disdain for regulatory processes" at the Department of the Interior under Secretary Zinke's leadership.

Wednesday, January 17, 2018 in National Public Radio

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

September 16, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

Overlapping highways

The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin

People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.

September 8, 2026 - Benjamin Schneider

The Hoover Dam blocking the Colorado River. The river's water level is noticeably low. The cliffs surrounding the blue water are brown and jagged.

US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico

A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.

September 11, 2026 - The Arizona Republic

A cluster of wind turbines beneath a stormy sky, above a forest where the leaves are beginning to change colors.

5 New England states march closer to 800 megawatt wind energy project

Securing federal approval for the project may be complicated under the Trump administration, which has historically been hostile towards domestic wind power.

September 16 - Inside Climate News

People boarding a bus on Maryland's Orange Route.

Baltimore to break ground on $50 million Transit Priority Project

The project will bring faster bus trips, safer streets and better bike connections to Baltimore.

September 16 - Mass Transit

A brick building with a circular sign with the Airbnb logo hanging off of it.

Airbnb launches $250 million 'last-dollar financing' housing accelerator, makes first investment in Austin

The company will put $6.4 million towards affordable housing development in Texas’ capital.

September 16 - Smart Cities Dive

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.