The superintendent of Crater Lake National Park, Kevin Heatley, has resigned just five months into his tenure, citing unmanageable workloads, policy-driven staffing reductions, and concern for employee well-being as reasons for his departure. His resignation has prompted federal inquiries into the park’s operating conditions.
Heatley, who stepped into the role in January, announced his resignation last week, stating he could no longer contribute to what he described as the “dismantling of the federal government.” He specifically pointed to overwhelming workloads and deteriorating mental health among park staff tasked with maintaining operations under increasingly strained conditions.
In response, U.S. Representative Maxine Dexter, D-Portland, demanded answers from the U.S. Department of the Interior, which oversees the National Park Service. “When a dedicated public servant resigns because they feel their team is being pushed past the brink, it’s a flashing red warning sign that something is very wrong,” Dexter said.
Heatley elaborated on his decision during an appearance on OPB’s “Think Out Loud,” explaining that the Trump administration’s policy blueprint, known as Project 2025, first spurred his move from a senior role at the Bureau of Land Management in Washington, D.C., to a field-based position in Oregon. The project, viewed as a strategy to overhaul the federal government, raised concerns for Heatley about potential targeting of federal personnel.
“Recognizing that headquarters staff would be vulnerable if Project 2025 advanced, I sought refuge within the National Park Service,” Heatley said. When the Crater Lake role became available, he considered it a rare opportunity. “It’s iconic, it’s phenomenal — an amazing place,” he said.
However, the park’s operational realities soon contradicted his expectations. According to Heatley, senior National Park Service officials received a series of restrictive directives following President Trump’s inauguration. These included a government-wide hiring freeze, overhauls to performance evaluations, and an order requiring weekly progress memos to the administration.
One of the most destabilizing events, Heatley said, came on February 14, when large numbers of probationary employees were abruptly dismissed — an episode he referred to as the “Saint Valentine’s Day massacre.” Nationwide, about 1,000 National Park Service employees lost their jobs, triggering legal challenges and internal upheaval.
Compounding the issue, Heatley said the Department of the Interior, under Secretary Doug Burgum, maintained a directive to keep parks operational despite these constraints. “You’re not allowed to hire people. If people leave, you can only eventually replace one for every four. But keep the parks open,” he recounted.
Reports reviewed by The Washington Post suggest that Burgum has downplayed these staffing concerns, despite widespread evidence of operational strain.
Crater Lake, known for its heavy snowfall — over 36 feet this year — faces a narrow operating window for visitor services. Delayed seasonal hiring has forced the park to depend on volunteers to conduct educational programs typically delivered by trained staff.
Budgetary stagnation over the past decade, combined with federal hiring limits, has left the park severely understaffed. Heatley warned that the resignation of even one critical employee, such as a snowplow operator, could shut down essential services during the winter.
“Right now, we have the services,” he said. “The problem is, it’s not sustainable — the workload for the amount of people we currently have.”
Many employees are working up to 60 hours of overtime within a two-week pay period. The pressure, Heatley said, is unsustainable and dangerous.
“I mean, the train is still running on the tracks, but it’s not heading in the right direction,” he concluded. “I cannot, in good conscience, manage an operation that I know is moving in the wrong direction.”
Heatley’s departure has intensified scrutiny of the National Park Service’s ability to meet its mission under politically motivated administrative constraints.
