Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

WestMichRad

(3,086 posts)
Thu Feb 12, 2026, 07:53 PM 7 hrs ago

Trump nominates hospitality executive to lead National Park Service

Source: The Guardian

Donald Trump has nominated the hospitality executive Scott Socha – whose company once sued to claim trademark rights to the name “Yosemite National Park” – to lead the National Park Service.

The nomination of an outsider with business ties to the agency he’d oversee comes at a pivotal moment for the service, which lost a quarter of its staff under Doge’s civil sector purge and which has been the subject of the Trump administration’s aggressive efforts to erase mention of historical events from NPS sites that portray Americans in an unfavorable light, such as slavery.

US national parks have historically been overseen by people with experience in conservation and land stewardship, with nominees over the past three decades typically emerging from within the agency ranks.

Socha, by contrast, spent the last 27 years working at Buffalo-based Delaware North, a food and hotel management company that provides hospitality services in seven national parks and runs lodging operations in five national park gateway communities, according to the company’s website.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/12/trump-nominates-scott-socha-national-park-service

7 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Trump nominates hospitality executive to lead National Park Service (Original Post) WestMichRad 7 hrs ago OP
Delaware North... 2naSalit 7 hrs ago #1
And worse, if given the chance. WestMichRad 7 hrs ago #2
Noooooo! SheltieLover 6 hrs ago #4
They want to sell them off... 2naSalit 6 hrs ago #5
Drill, baby. Drill. erronis 5 hrs ago #6
FUCK. THIS. NOISE. AZJonnie 7 hrs ago #3
Entertainment over environment pfitz59 48 min ago #7

WestMichRad

(3,086 posts)
2. And worse, if given the chance.
Thu Feb 12, 2026, 08:01 PM
7 hrs ago

He once sued the NPS in attempt to trademark the name “Yosemite National Park.”

Given the chance, he’d probably try to have private contractors operate our national parks.

2naSalit

(101,203 posts)
5. They want to sell them off...
Thu Feb 12, 2026, 08:44 PM
6 hrs ago

Because why should they keep parks open to the lowly public?

If we don't stop these fuckers soon, they will have taken everything.

AZJonnie

(3,287 posts)
3. FUCK. THIS. NOISE.
Thu Feb 12, 2026, 08:06 PM
7 hrs ago

We all need to call and write our Congresscritters: Vote NO on this unqualified, rapacious POS.

This can not stand!!!

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»Trump nominates hospitali...