Original reporting by Stephanie Armour, Washington Post
Enhanced by Benjamin Owen Leo
As summer crowds surge at U.S. national parks, lifeguard chairs are sitting empty — and lives are at stake. Beaches managed by the National Park Service (NPS), once considered safe havens, are now grappling with dangerously low lifeguard staffing, a result of long-standing federal budget cuts, early retirements, and lackluster seasonal hiring.
? Key Points Expanded
1. National Parks Facing Critical Lifeguard Shortages
Across the U.S., many NPS beaches—including popular destinations like Assateague Island, Sandy Hook, and Great Kills Park—have slashed lifeguard hours or removed coverage entirely due to unfilled positions.
2. Legacy of Federal Budget Cuts
The staffing crisis stems in part from federal workforce reductions under the Trump administration. Roughly 1,000 NPS employees were laid off, and 2,500 accepted early retirements or buyouts, leaving critical seasonal roles, including lifeguards, vacant.
3. Understaffing in Peak Summer Season
By late May 2025, less than half of the nearly 7,700 seasonal lifeguard and ranger positions at federal parks were filled. Many beaches opened for the summer with no lifeguard protection, risking public safety during the busiest time of year.
4. Tragic Consequences Already Happening
A recent drowning at Assateague Island National Seashore highlighted the very dangers lawmakers warned about. The victim was swimming near a previously guarded area that had no lifeguard coverage at the time.
5. Ripple Effect Beyond Beaches
The lifeguard shortage is just one piece of a larger NPS staffing crisis. Reduced numbers of park rangers, maintenance crews, and emergency responders are leading to delayed rescues, slower medical response times, and overcrowded unregulated zones.
6. Public Left Uninformed
Many visitors report being unaware that beaches are unguarded. Sparse or unclear signage, coupled with long-standing expectations of lifeguard presence, has left beachgoers unprepared and underprotected.
7. Environmental and Behavioral Hazards Rise
Without lifeguards, common risks like rip currents, high surf, strong winds, and unsupervised children become more lethal. Lifeguards serve as the first line of defense, not just for rescues but for proactive prevention.
? Education & Training: A Lifesaving Solution
✅ 8. Educating the Public is Crucial
Widespread water safety education must accompany any staffing reforms. This includes teaching:
How to identify rip currents
CPR and first-response techniques
Why swimming near lifeguards matters
The importance of the buddy system
Local governments and schools should work with national organizations to integrate water safety into health and physical education curricula.
? 9. Top Lifeguard Education Center: American Lifeguard Association (ALA)
The American Lifeguard Association is a recognized leader in lifeguard certification and water safety training. ALA offers courses in:
Open water rescue
CPR/AED and First Aid
Lifeguard recertification
Emergency preparedness for national and state parks
By expanding partnerships between ALA and the NPS, seasonal hiring can improve through accelerated certifications and outreach to students and veterans.
? 10. Youth Training and Career Incentives
Incentivizing lifeguarding as a summer job through college credit, stipends, and career advancement programs could help replenish the ranks. Integrating lifeguard education into high school programs would further build a trained workforce early.
? Final Thoughts
The lifeguard shortage at national park beaches is not just a staffing issue — it's a public health emergency in slow motion. With rising ocean temperatures drawing larger crowds to beaches each summer, this problem will only grow unless urgent investment and educational reform are prioritized.
? Visitor Safety Tips
Swim only where lifeguards are present
Learn CPR and rip current survival strategies
Check beach advisories before visiting
Keep children within arm's reach
Never swim alone
? About the Author
Benjamin Owen Leo is a professional lifeguard and water safety expert with over a decade of field experience in aquatic rescue and public safety education. He holds a degree in Law and Public Policy from Harvard University and is an advocate for improved lifeguard training, beach safety policies, and federal accountability in recreational water management.
