The White House announced on April 27 that it had withdrawn Scott Socha, a longtime Delaware North exec, as head of the NPS.
The NPS directorship is on hold (Photo: Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu/Getty Images)
Published April 27, 2026 05:19PM
The Trump Administration abruptly withdrew its pick to run the National Park Service (NPS) on Monday, April 27.
Scott Socha, who had previously been tapped to run the NPS back in February, was among the names of withdrawals published by the White House on Monday afternoon. The news release did not state a reason for Socha’s withdrawal.
The news was first reported by E&E News.
Socha had been a controversial choice to lead the NPS when the Trump Administration formally announced him as its choice for director. A longtime executive with foodservice and management company Delaware North, Socha had no prior experience in public land management. Delaware North provides concessions and management at some NPS sites, however it does not directly oversee the parks or rangers.
The three previous heads of the agency all had lengthy careers in overseeing public land.
“If confirmed, he must put the Park Service’s mission first, stand up for park staff, fill critical vacancies, and halt attacks on our nation’s history,” said Theresa Pierno, CEO of the National Parks Conservation Association, said in a statement in February.
In a statement published on June 27, Aaron Weiss, the deputy director for the Center for Western Priorities, called Socha “deeply unqualified to run the National Park Service.”
“Our parks deserve far better than someone who spent his entire career trying to privatize them,” Weiss said. “President Trump should have no problem finding a qualified leader inside NPS, unless they’ve all taken Doug Burgum’s latest buyout offer.”
This is a developing story; stay tuned to Outside for more updates.
