Visitors to Great Smoky Mountains National Park spent $2.2 billion in and around the park in 2023, according to USA Facts/NPS file

Voters across the country are greatly concerned over the health of the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service in the wake of the firing of more than 3,000 federal workers by the Trump administration, according to polling out Wednesday.

One-thousand Park Service employees were fired on Valentine's Day, and about 3,400 Forest Service workers also were let go that day by the administration, which is seeking to downsize the federal government.

Just 10 percent of those surveyed by Data for Progress said they support funding cuts for the two agencies, while 30 percent said funding for the Park Service and Forest Service should be increased, with 53 percent saying it should be held steady.

Topping the concerns over the recent staff reductions of the 1,206 likely U.S. voters reached by the think tank "for the future of progressivism" were the economic impacts (job losses and possible park closings) that could trickle down from the lack of staff (16 percent of the respondents), increased risk of wildfires (14 percent), harm to wildlife (12 percent), poor trail and park maintenance (10 percent), reduced visitor safety (10 percent) and "loss of precious natural areas" (10 percent).

The survey [attached below] was conducted February 21 and 22. 

Meanwhile, USAFacts, a not-for-profit nonpartisan organization that strives to make government data easily understandable, released figures demonstrating the economic might of the National Park System. According to that organization:

• In 2023, the 325 million visitors to national parks spent an estimated $26.4 billion.
• In 2023, there were 415,400 jobs in local economies tied to supporting national park visitors, generating $19.4 billion in wages and salaries. Breaking it down by state, California had the most jobs supported by park visitors (39,700), and North Carolina was close behind at 38,800 jobs.
• Visitors spent the most money at Great Smoky Mountains National Park ($2.2 billion) in 2023, followed by Golden Gate National Recreation Area ($1.5 billion) and Blue Ridge Parkway ($1.4 billion).

Lodging costs were the largest component of the overall spending, with $9.9 billion traced to that category by USAFacts. Dining ($5.15 billion) was second, followed by gasoline costs ($2.79 billion), and recreational spending ($2.22 billion). Camping contributed just $560 million to the $26.4 billion total.