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By Jasmine Laws
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Two Democratic senators are proposing to expand National Parks in California, despite ongoing issues with staffing and budget cuts at the country's national parks.
Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla of California have proposed to expand Joshua Tree National Park by more than 20,000 acres and Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area by 100,000 acres.
Newsweek has contacted the National Park Service (NPS), Schiff's office and Padilla's office outside of regular working hours via email for comment.
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The Department of the Interior (DOI) said that it "does not comment on pending or proposed legislation. We will continue to monitor developments and provide information as appropriate once decisions are finalized."
Why It Matters
National parks have faced a staffing crisis since there were mass layoffs at the start of the year, along with budget cuts, which were notably unpopular among Americans, according to a survey conducted from October to November.
Going into the summer, the NPS faced its "lowest staffing levels in modern history," according to the National Parks Conversation Association, prompting significant concern about the management and upkeep of the parks as there have been record numbers of visitors in recent years. Expanding the parks could strain an already-stressed workforce.
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What To Know
Earlier this year, Schiff, along with Representative Laura Friedman, a California Democrat, introduced the Rim of the Valley Corridor Preservation Act, which was built on previous legislation, the Rim of the Valley Corridor Study Act, that the senator brought forward in 2008.
The bill would protect some of the last wild and open spaces in the Los Angeles area and add more than 118,000 acres to the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, which is more than 150,000 acres.
Schiff's office said in a press release that the expansion of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area boundary would respect private property rights and existing local land-use authorities. They added it would also not put additional restrictions on property owners.
Also this year, Padilla introduced a bill to amend the California Desert Protection Act of 1994 to expand the boundary of Joshua Tree National Park by roughly 20,149 acres. The park is currently almost 800,000 acres.
There have been notable changes at national parks in recent weeks, as the DOI recently announced new plans to modernize access and prioritize affordability for Americans.
The DOI also shared the list of the national park fee-free days for 2026, or as it called them, "resident-only patriotic fee-free days," which are significantly different from this year's.
In place of MLK Day, a federal holiday paying tribute to the civil rights leader's equality and justice legacy, and Juneteenth, a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S., the department's list of fee-free days in 2026 instead included more former presidents' birthdays, as well as Flag Day, which also is President Donald Trump's birthday.
There will also be changes to the entry costs for foreign visitors and new digital passes, which will have a picture of Trump on them, according to the news outlet People.
What People Are Saying
Senator Adam Schiff, in a statement: "The Rim of the Valley contains some of the last wild and open spaces in Los Angeles and connects our urban city centers and suburbs with the beautiful outdoors. This legislation will preserve the land and wildlife that millions of Angelenos enjoy. We must protect these natural treasures for future generations, so they too can experience the beautiful hiking, abundant wildlife, diverse ecosystem, and significant historic sites found in the Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area."
Senator Alex Padilla, in a hearing, according to news outlet SFGATE: "Having grown up in the San Fernando Valley, I can tell you firsthand how too many communities are denied true access to the outdoors. And the benefit of being in natural environments for communities who can look up at the mountains but feel like it’s a world away to have access or try to get there."
What Happens Next
Both bills still need to be voted on and passed by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee before either can move to the floor for a full vote.
Update 12/11/25, 11:23 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with response from the Department of the Interior.
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