Trump nominates a hospitality executive to lead the National Park Service

President Donald Trump has nominated Scott Socha, a hospitality executive, to lead the National Park Service, sparking immediate scrutiny due to potential conflicts of interest between his corporate role and the federal agency he would oversee.

Socha currently serves as president for parks and resorts at Delaware North, a major hospitality company that holds significant contracts with multiple national parks including Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Shenandoah. The Buffalo-based company reported over $4 billion in revenue in 2022 and employs more than 40,000 people. According to company spokesperson Cait Zulewski, Socha will maintain his position at Delaware North while his nomination awaits Senate confirmation.

The nomination comes amid controversial changes within the National Park Service under the Trump administration. The agency has experienced widespread employee terminations as part of the administration’s efforts to substantially reduce its size. Additionally, the administration has faced criticism for removing or planning to remove exhibits in national parks that address slavery, climate change, and the historical mistreatment of Native Americans.

Administration officials have defended these actions, citing a directive from President Trump to eliminate what they characterize as “disparaging” content. Critics, however, argue these moves represent an attempt to sanitize uncomfortable aspects of American history.

White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers expressed confidence in Socha’s qualifications, stating he is “totally qualified” to implement the president’s vision for the national park system. “Scott looks forward to implementing America First initiatives, such as increasing park access for American families, reducing permitting burdens, and raising money for conservation projects,” Rogers said.

The nomination arrives during a period of financial uncertainty for the Park Service. Last year, President Trump proposed cutting the agency’s $2.9 billion operating budget by more than $900 million, a reduction park advocates warned would severely hamper operations. While Congress ultimately blocked these cuts, maintaining funding at levels similar to previous years, the agency has already lost approximately 4,000 positions—nearly a quarter of its workforce—since Trump took office, according to the National Parks Conservation Association.

Theresa Pierno, director of the National Parks Conservation Association, expressed cautious willingness to work with Socha but emphasized the need for policy reversals. “If confirmed, he must put the Park Service’s mission first, stand up for park staff, fill critical vacancies and halt attacks on our nation’s history,” Pierno stated. She noted that Socha’s industry experience working with the Park Service potentially positions him to provide effective leadership.

The National Park Service has operated without a Senate-confirmed director for more than a year, creating challenges for long-term planning and policy implementation across the nation’s 423 park units that collectively cover more than 85 million acres.

Socha, who has been with Delaware North since 1999, would face the complex task of managing potential conflicts between his corporate background and public service responsibilities if confirmed. The Senate confirmation process will likely examine these considerations closely, along with his vision for addressing the agency’s staffing challenges and the administration’s controversial content policies.

Environmental groups and park advocates will be watching the confirmation process with particular interest, given the critical role national parks play in conservation, recreation, and preserving America’s natural and cultural heritage for future generations.