The Trump administration's efforts to downsize the Federal government are threatening Ice Age Trail projects. The Wisconsin State Journal has an article about this but it's behind a paywall.
It apparently notes that the National Park Service office for the Ice Age Trail has had its staff reduced from 7 to 4 and that the Ice Age Trail Alliance hasn't gotten $600,000 that the National Park Service had earmarked for them.
To find out more, I asked a co-worker who is a member of the IATA, at least I think he is. He gives them money and volunteers for them, at any rate.
He said that, generally speaking, money from the NPS goes to infrastructury things like boardwalks and porta potties while a small amount is used to provide a modicum of food for volunteers working on the trail. In addition, he noted that volunteers who go out to clear the trail with chainsaws do so while covered by an NPS insurance policy and now volunteers are unsure if that's still the case.
It's a hardball world. We've gotta keep our heads until this DOGE craze blows over. In the meantime, donate to the Ice Age Trail Alliance, if you can.
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