For decades, America’s National Parks have been celebrated as “America’s best idea.” But this celebration often overlooks that their creation came at an unjust cost. When Yellowstone National Park was established in 1872—the first of its kind—it displaced the Crow, Shoshone, and other Indigenous nations who had lived healthy lives stewarding the land for thousands of years. This pattern was repeated across the country, excluding and displacing Indigenous Peoples to reservations, which today represent some of the poorest regions in the entire Western Hemisphere.
As President Trump and a Republican-controlled Congress focus on scaling back government to reduce federal spending, a unique opportunity emerges. By transferring National Parks back to Tribal Governments, we can address a historic injustice in a way that aligns with conservative principles of market-driven solutions and limited government.
Today, the National Park Service faces an $22 billion maintenance backlog. Taxpayers bear the cost, while the parks remain dependent on unpredictable federal budgets. Conservatives have long championed the idea of reducing government programs or privatizing inefficient systems. This plan provides a pragmatic alternative: transfer management of National Parks to Tribes, enabling them to operate the parks as self-sustaining enterprises.
Indigenous Nations have already demonstrated their ability to manage complex, revenue-generating enterprises. Tribal casinos, for example, generate billions annually, providing jobs, funding education, supporting healthcare and increasing state revenue. But not every Tribe is geographically located in a place where a casino can offer such benefits. A similar approach could be applied to National Parks, where revenue streams could still include entrance fees, dining, and camping, but also sustainable agriculture, tourism, hunting permits, eco-recreation, and cultural events. Visitors would still have equitable access to these cherished landscapes but with richer, more meaningful experiences shaped by the deep knowledge of multi-tribal Indigenous stewards.
The economic potential of this shift is transformative. In 2023, a National Parks service report found that National Parks contributed $55.6 billion in economic output to the U.S. economy. With Indigenous innovation and diversification, revenues could grow significantly, benefitting both Tribal Nations and surrounding communities as the federal government’s investment of tax-payer dollars would decrease over time. Economic output of parks could be reinvested into tribal healthcare, education, infrastructure, job creation and job training, reducing federal expenses in those areas as well. It’s not just a matter of justice; it’s a pathway to long-term success. Tribes would gain opportunity to create stable jobs and self-sustaining economies that align with their values and promote cultural revitalization.
By reducing reliance on federal programs over time, this plan would also align with the federal government’s trust responsibility. The federal trust responsibility, established through treaties and affirmed by the U.S. Constitution, requires the federal government to protect tribal treaty rights, supporting their soveriegnty and self-sufficiency after centuries of oppression. Transferring management control of National Parks to Tribes would be a tangible step toward fulfilling that commitment.
Critics might question whether Tribes are equipped to manage these lands effectively. Yet, In 2021, Chuck Sams made history as the first Indigenous leader of the National Park Service in its 105-year existence, and Deb Haaland became the first Native American Cabinet Secretary when she began leading the Department of the Interior. Their leadership has ushered in a new era of recognition for Indigenous expertise, reflected in the over 80 co-stewardship agreements now in place between the National Park Service and Tribal Nations.
While co-stewardship represents progress, it also highlights the untapped potential of fully transitioning these lands to Tribal sovereignty. Indigenous-led management has already proven its ability to balance conservation with cultural preservation, but going beyond co-stewardship toward full Tribal stewardship would provide Indigenous Nations with the autonomy to transform National Parks into thriving centers of environmental, cultural and economic renewal.
Making this vision a reality would require careful planning and multuple pathways are available to acheive it. For example, Congress could authorize the transfer of select pilot parks to Tribes with ancestral ties to the land, supported by a multi-year transition period. Federal agencies would provide technical training and funding for infrastructure upgrades during this time, ensuring a seamless handoff. Over time, as parks become self-sustaining, federal financial involvement would diminish. This would free up resources for other national priorities while empowering Tribes to lead their own futures together.
This proposal isn’t just about fixing National Parks, it’s about restoring dignity and opportunity. It’s about addressing a historic wrong in a way that benefits everyone: taxpayers, tourists, Indigenous Peoples and the environment alike. In a time of political division, this initiative offers rare common ground. Conservatives can champion it as a fiscally responsible way to reduce government spending and promote local control. Progressives can celebrate it as a landmark act of land restitution and environmental justice. Indigenous leaders can see it as a pathway to sovereignty and economic independence.
This idea has been discussed before, but the Trump era, with Republicans controlling Congress and the presidency, represents a unique moment to work with Tribal Nations to achieve it. This is a legacy-defining opportunity to preserve America’s natural treasures and show that justice and fiscal responsibility can go hand in hand. Let’s give National Parks back to the people who first called them home. In doing so, we can create a stronger America.
