Have staffing cuts affected lodges within the park?

Question

I know the lodges within the park are operated by Aramark, and should have adequate staffing. On the other hand, they charge premium pricing based on location (or at least Yosemite Valley Lodge appears to).

So I’m wondering whether there are any issues making the in-park lodges less attractive right now. I sincerely hope people will just focus on this question without getting into politics.

Answer

Great question. Yes — there *are* real concerns currently about Yosemite’s in-park lodging, largely tied to staffing and maintenance under the Aramark-run Yosemite Hospitality (YH) concession. These issues don’t necessarily mean you should avoid staying in the park, but they’re worth being aware of. Here’s a detailed rundown of recent developments, what has been impacted, and how that might affect your lodging decision:

1. Staffing Strains and Park Services

There’s widespread reporting that Yosemite National Park is dealing with staffing shortages — both on the National Park Service (NPS) side and in concession operations.

According to the Yosemite Conservancy, cuts to the federal workforce have deepened a pre-existing deficit: the NPS was already operating with a significant shortfall, and further reductions are making it harder to maintain all visitor services.
Multiple media outlets report that fewer rangers and seasonal workers could mean slower ranger response times, less frequent maintenance (especially of restrooms), and general strain on visitor services.
Specifically, some NPS staff are being reassigned to perform very basic tasks like cleaning restrooms, rather than their usual more specialized roles.

2. Impact on Lodging and Aramark/Yosemite Hospitality

The concessionaire that runs Yosemite lodges (Yosemite Hospitality, a subsidiary of Aramark) is under heavy scrutiny. Several problems have been documented:

The 2024 NPS evaluation of Yosemite Hospitality rated them “unsatisfactory” in several areas.
Maintenance and safety issues: Reports include mold, deteriorating decks (with exposed nails), plumbing failures, and other health/safety risks.
Some lodge guest reports suggest long wait times, especially at check-in, and concerns about service quality, given the high rates charged.
A 2024 NPS internal document (via FOIA) indicates significant leadership turnover in Yosemite Hospitality, but also notes that they are working to fill key roles.

3. Out-Backcountry Lodging and Concession Closures

One of the more visible impacts is that the High Sierra Camps (remote tent-cabin camps with kitchens and toilets) are *not opening* this year, officially due to utilities issues (water, toilets), but staffing concerns are widely believed to be part of the problem.

These camps are operated by Aramark / Yosemite Hospitality, so their closure is a direct signal that concession operations are strained.

4. Should This Affect Your Decision to Stay In-Park?

Here’s how the staffing and maintenance issues *might* (or might not) influence your stay:

Service tradeoffs: You may notice slower service, especially in restaurants, shuttle delays, or slower maintenance response. If you're expecting ultra-luxury or flawless operations, there’s some risk.
Safety / infrastructure risk: The reported issues (mold, deck boards, trip hazards) are important, but not necessarily widespread across *all* lodges. Some guests still report that their stays were fine.
Value consideration: Because lodging rates in-park are quite high, some people feel the quality isn’t matching the price right now — this is a valid concern.
Off-park alternative: Staying just outside Yosemite (in towns like El Portal, Groveland, or Mariposa) might feel more reliable right now. You may trade a bit of convenience for potentially better-maintained accommodations and more stable service.

5. Why the Problems Exist — Context

Long-term budget and hiring issues for the NPS: Seasonal hiring has been hard, and some policies have exacerbated existing shortfalls.
Aramark’s concession management is under pressure: Bloomberg and others report that Aramark laid off many Yosemite staff early in their contract and may have underestimated the operational complexity of running Yosemite’s valley “town.”
Maintenance backlogs: Some of the structural and health issues (like deck rot) may stem from deferred maintenance over years, exacerbated by staff shortages.

Bottom Line: Yes, there *are* legitimate concerns around lodging quality and guest experience at in-park accommodations in Yosemite right now, driven by staffing shortages and aging infrastructure under Aramark/Yosemite Hospitality. That said, many people are still staying there and having acceptable to good experiences — it’s not a universal disaster, but the risk is higher than in some prior years.

If I were in your shoes, I would:

Carefully weigh whether the convenience of staying in Yosemite is worth the potential service trade-offs.
Read very recent reviews (2024–2025) of the specific lodge you’re planning to use.
Have a backup plan outside the park in case you want to avoid any possible lodging frustrations.

Hope that helps — it’s a nuanced issue, but very much worth considering as you plan your stay.