BILLINGS, MONT. — President Donald Trump is withdrawing his nomination of hospitality executive Scott Socha to lead the National Park Service. Socha said in a statement that he was dropping out of consideration for the post for personal reasons.

Socha is president for parks and resorts at Buffalo, New York-based Delaware North, which has service contracts with numerous parks and describes itself as one of the world's largest privately owned entertainment and hospitality companies. A White House spokesperson said in February that Socha was qualified to execute Trump's plans for the park system.

The National Park Service is currently overseen by acting director Jessica Bowron. The agency did not have a Senate-confirmed director during Trump's first term.

"It's very unfortunate that our parks have gone more than a year without a permanent director at a time when they need strong, steady leadership the most," said Emily Douce, a representative of the National Parks Conservation Association advocacy group. She said the next director needs to undo the damage.

Thousands of employees have been fired or have otherwise left the National Park Service since Trump took office. The administration's proposed budget for the next fiscal year would reduce National Park Service staffing to 9,200 employees, down almost 30% compared to 2025 levels.

The agency's operating budget would be cut by more than $1 billion to $2.2 billion for the 2027 fiscal year starting in October. Similar budget cuts proposed for fiscal year 2026 were blocked by lawmakers in Congress after park supporters and former employees warned that the proposal would have effectively gutted the agency.

The administration faced criticism for the removal or planned removal of national park exhibits about slavery, climate change and the destruction of Native American culture. In February, a federal judge ordered that an exhibit about nine people enslaved by George Washington must be restored at Washington's former home in Philadelphia. Administration officials have said they are removing disparaging messages under an order from Trump last year.

Under Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, the National Park Service has started charging international tourists $100 each to visit U.S. parks including Yellowstone and Grand Canyon. The agency placed Trump's image on its annual passes for U.S. citizens, and environmentalists filed a lawsuit saying that the move was illegal.