Sequestration Cuts Reach Salem: Historic Maritime Site Offering Less this Summer

The Friendship of Salem and the Salem Maritime National Historic Site will be available less often to tourists this summer season and park officials are preparing for further cuts moving forward.

According to the Salem Maritime Historic Site's Public Information Officer Jonathan Parker, park officials were asked to find $168,000 worth of cost savings for their Fiscal 2013 budget - which translated to having 11 fewer seasonal employees on this summer.

Seasonal employees, he said, are responsible for opening up the park's orientation center, giving tours of The Friendship, emptying trash barrels and interacting with visitors. 

Salem Historic site isn't the only national park dealing with the cuts, Parker said. The Grand Canyon has had to transition to emptying their trash once a day, rather than twice - and parks nationwide have had to significantly reduce their educational programming. 

"This certainly isn't limited to parks in Salem and Saugus," Parker said. "These cuts are something we're dealing with as an agency as a whole."

Under the current sequestration law all federal agencies, including the National Park Service, will need to reduce their budgets further in 2014 and beyond.  

"Congress has not yet approved a 2014 budget, but the park is currently planning for the potential of further reductions to programs and service levels at Salem Maritime and Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site for Fiscal 2014," Parker said.