By Emily Guss
On Friday, Feb. 14th, I, along with many others, was terminated.
At 6:45 p.m., an email arrived that stopped my heart, my dedication, my passion, my life.
I have worked 24 years in the National Park Service (NPS) at 11 different National Park sites and one NPS Training Center (Mather).
And now, to be FIRED, by an EMAIL of lies. Sent at 6:45 p.m. on a Friday night, Valentine’s Day.
It’s disrespectful to say the least! Disgusting! Demoralizing! Inhumane!
I’ve always been in good standing and at least “fully successful,” but generally more. I just left my permanent job to take a term job in a new series, but within the NPS. So that supposedly put me into a “trial” period, which now means my 24-year career is over.
To just end a career without any thought about the person behind it that has spent 24 years of blood, sweat, and tears. All the sacrifices I’ve made for this career has moved me a million times across the country. I’ve given up many comforts, I’ve persevered through multiple hardships — including losing my father to suicide, my house and belongings being destroyed in the Virgin Islands by Hurricane Irma, and surviving multiple hostile work environments.
I’m thinking about the amazing friends I’ve made with colleagues, the millions of visitors I’ve inspired and Junior Rangers I’ve sworn in, the hundreds of park employees I’ve trained and mentored, interns whose careers I’ve helped start, the resources I’ve loved, protected, and educated visitors about, the park communities I’ve lived in, the unfinished projects and career goals I was excited to complete, and all of the dreams I still haven’t reached.
All be ended abruptly by a stupid email from people I know, because I’ve worked in the Washington Support Office (WASO).
I’m angry. I’m sad. I’m shocked. I’m overwhelmed.
And on top of my emotions, I’m feeling for all of others who also lost their careers. We don’t deserve this. We need help.
I could really use some bonding with others who have been terminated too! Please reach out! I think we need to start a group to bond, help, and share our resources and steps forward.
This was originally posted by Emily Guss on Feb. 15, 2025.
