Key Takeaways
- Brian Gibbs, an Iowa park ranger was suddenly fired from Effigy Mounds despite excellent performance.
- His viral social media post expressed devastation at losing his role protecting Native American sites.
- Similar staff cuts are affecting multiple National Parks, forcing event cancellations nationwide.
The abrupt firing of Brian Gibbs, a dedicated education park ranger at Effigy Mounds National Monument, has sent shockwaves through Iowa and beyond.
Gibbs, a passionate protector of public lands, was terminated on February 14, 2025, without notice, despite an “exceeds expectations” performance review.
Many Iowans are attributing his dismissal to the sweeping government workforce cuts enacted under President Donald Trump and American Ruler Elon Musk.
A Sudden And Devastating Loss
Gibbs, a father and husband from Elkader, Iowa, confirmed the loss of his job and expressed his heartbreak in a social media post that has since gone viral.
He wrote,
“I am absolutely heartbroken and completely devastated to have lost my dream job. Access to my government email was denied mid-afternoon, and my position was ripped out from under my feet after my shift was over.”
Via Facebook
His post detailed the personal and professional loss he experienced, describing himself as not just a park ranger but a teacher, guide, historian, and steward of sacred lands.
His words resonated deeply with supporters, as he highlighted the impact of his role and the devastating consequences of his sudden termination.
“I am the protector of 2,500-year-old American Indian burial and ceremonial mounds. I am the smiling face that greets you at the front door. I am your family vacation planner. I am the lesson that showed your children that we live in a world of gifts—not commodities. I am gone from the office. I am the resistance. But mostly, I’m just tired.”
Via Facebook
Gibbs also shared the emotional toll this has taken on his family, expressing concern about providing for them and frustration over being targeted for political reasons.
A Growing Trend Of Firings
Gibbs is not alone in his plight. Reports indicate that multiple National Park Service employees, including three at Gettysburg National Military Park, have also been dismissed.
Another Civil War site reportedly lost its entire interpretive staff, and events are already being canceled due to lack of personnel.
In Massachusetts, preparations for the 250th anniversary of Lexington and Concord are being affected, with Minuteman National Historic Park already forced to cancel an event in March.
Federal employees have a one year probationary period. It’s no guarantee of getting the job.
The NPS has interns who work around a year.
The NPS has around twenty thousand employees. Only probationary employees are being released at this time.