Stolen from a sister forum:

Dear Yosemite Community Members and Partners:

We wanted to keep you informed as we begin to feel the impacts of the March 1 sequestration just enacted. Sequestration and resulting budget cuts will have an effect on park operations and we want to keep you informed.

First and foremost, it is the park's goal to keep you updated as this situation evolves and we receive additional guidance and direction from Washington and the regional office. At this time, we want to pass on to you several pieces of news.

With respect to the National Park Service (NPS), the sequestration calls for a 5% cut in the operating budget funds of each park; in the case of Yosemite, this represents a cut of $1.4 million in base operations. Though our park will have to cut this amount, we will not have to furlough any permanent employees. Basically, we are absorbing most of the budget cuts by lapsing positions. This budget cut will result in fewer ranger programs, reductions in resource programs, and elimination of some services from our Facilities Division. There will also be some effects on our seasonal workforce, whose contribution we heavily depend on during peak visitation throughout the summer.

Last week, Director Jarvis also indicated that a hiring freeze is now in place in NPS for both permanents and seasonals and that only mission critical travel should be undertaken; all other travel is canceled until further notice.

The Washington Office is now seeking an exemption from the hiring freeze for all seasonal hiring, including base funded seasonal positions that were included in the park's sequestration plan. We hope to receive this exemption this week. With this exemption, we anticipate filling many of our seasonal positions in preparation for the summer season.

At this point in time, all Yosemite facilities remain open with normal operating hours. However, we will continue to evaluate the impacts of not filling the vacancies identified discussed on park operations and programs and make adjustments as necessary. Since our park partners are private entities and not government funded, services provided by them will not be affected by the sequester and will continue normal operations.

In the meantime, I want to personally thank you for your continued commitment to Yosemite during these uncertainties and hope you will reach out to me or others in the park if you have additional questions. We hope you understand we are doing everything possible to limit impacts to visitors and our employees.

Don Neubacher, on behalf of the Executive Leadership Team

Thank you, eeek.

Verum audaces non gerunt indusia alba. - Ipsi dixit MCMLXXII