The White House announced on Monday that President Donald Trump has withdrawn the nomination of Scott Socha to serve as Director of the National Park Service. According to a statement obtained by Fox News, Socha cited personal reasons for his decision, stating he withdrew from consideration in March 2026.
Key Takeaways
President Donald Trump has withdrawn his nomination of Scott Socha to lead the National Park Service. According to multiple reports, Socha cited personal reasons for withdrawing from consideration.
- White House announces withdrawal of Scott Socha's nomination
- Socha is president for parks and resorts at Delaware North
- Park service currently led by acting director Jessica Bowron
- Conservation groups had questioned Socha’s qualifications
Socha is currently the president for parks and resorts at Delaware North, a hospitality company with service contracts across numerous national parks. The White House had previously described him as 'totally qualified' to execute Trump's plans for the park system when he was nominated in February. However, conservation groups had raised concerns about his lack of government experience.
The National Park Service has been without a Senate-confirmed director throughout Trump’s first term and is currently overseen by acting director Jessica Bowron. The administration has faced criticism for widespread firings within the park service and proposed budget cuts that would reduce staffing to 9,200 employees, down almost 30% compared to 2025 levels.
Additionally, the Trump administration has been accused of attempting to whitewash national history by removing exhibits related to slavery and Native American culture. In February, a federal judge ordered the reinstatement of an exhibit about enslaved people at George Washington’s former home in Philadelphia after it was removed by the Trump administration.
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