“Why Am I Overweight?”: Yosemite’s Beauty and Popularity Can’t Protect Workers from Musk’s DOGE Reductions | US News
Olek Chmura’s role involved maintaining the facilities, including cleaning the toilets, at Yosemite National Park in California, one of the most frequented tourist destinations in the United States.
That changed last Friday afternoon when he received an email from an unfamiliar sender, informing him that his job had been terminated.
Olek is among approximately 1,000 recently hired National Park Service staff members who were abruptly let go. They are the latest casualties of Elon Musk’s “move fast and break things” strategy in national governance.
“I’m traumatized,” Olek comments.
“What makes me a target? I earn a modest salary of around $40,000 (£32,000) annually, and I can’t even afford to reside in the local community. So, why me? Why am I the one chosen?”
“I chose to serve the American public and the global community because I genuinely believe that our national parks are among America’s greatest treasures.”
Olek Chmura, a cleaner, was laid off as part of Elon Musk’s extensive job cuts.
Olek’s cap symbolizes his frustration at being targeted for cost reductions.
Elon Musk appears to be implementing a similar strategy of drastic cost-cutting and job reductions through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), mirroring actions taken in his private companies like X and Tesla.
I ask Olek what he would convey to Musk if he had the chance.
“I would tell him to come see the bathrooms I maintain and decide if I’m essential or not,” he replies.
“I cleaned these toilets with just a putty knife and a pumice stone.”
El Capitan, one of Yosemite’s many breathtaking rock formations that draw millions of visitors annually. Pic: AP
National Parks are viewed by many as America’s crown jewels. Over 300 million individuals visit parks nationwide each year, including Yosemite, Yellowstone, and the Grand Canyon, to admire their stunning landscapes and historical landmarks.
However, this natural beauty has not safeguarded against the harsh job cuts being implemented across the national government, with an additional 3,400 employees at the US Forest Service also losing their jobs.
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Current employees at some of the 63 national parks in the United States are expressing concerns that the job eliminations could severely impact park operations and pose safety risks for both staff and visitors.
Danielle Schell and her husband Christopher are visiting Yosemite with their children, nine-year-old Cairo and six-year-old Dakari. They are capturing photos of the valley from the tunnel view viewpoint.
Visitor Christopher Schell believes Yosemite’s value cannot be measured in monetary terms.
“I feel devastated,” remarks Christopher, an urban ecologist and professor at the University of California.
“Those making the cuts are likely not the ones who visit here. When you see the beauty we are witnessing, it becomes difficult to justify the cuts, which feel purely financial. Yet, no amount of money can replace this,” he says, indicating the magnificent view.
Danielle believes the reductions are short-sighted. “It’s disappointing to explain to your children why billionaires don’t grasp our perspective as everyday people,” she comments.
Danielle Schell believes Musk’s cuts lack foresight.
“How do you convince those who don’t understand that these matters are crucial? We do ourselves a disservice by undervaluing these green spaces that are integral to our lives.”
Conversely, some hold different views. Steve Giacolini, who is visiting the park with his son, supports Elon Musk’s initiative in government.
Steve Giacolini endorses Musk’s agenda but believes national parks like Yosemite should be shielded from budget cuts.
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“I fully support what Elon Musk is doing. He is the right individual for this role,” he expresses.
“There is an enormous amount of waste, and it has persisted for decades. It is shocking. He may scrutinize all these agencies to identify areas for cuts, eliminating unnecessary positions, which could save billions of dollars.
“However, I believe that agencies such as the National Park Service should be among the last to face reductions.”
It appears that there is no structured approach to these cuts, and critics claim that there is no discernible logic behind who retains their positions and who is let go—only the assurance that more cuts are forthcoming.