Yosemite Visitors Stunned by Upside-Down U.S. Flag Display

Upside-Down Flag at Yosemite Sends Bold Message

Over the weekend, visitors at Yosemite National Park couldn’t miss the upside-down American flag flying atop El Capitan. The striking image, seen on Sunday, February 23, wasn’t a mistake. It was a deliberate act of protest by National Park Service employees.

A Clear Signal of Distress

Under the U.S. Flag Code, flying the flag upside down signifies “dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.” Yosemite staff used the symbol to protest severe job cuts under the Trump administration, voicing alarm over the park system’s declining conditions.

Job Cuts Shake the Park System

The administration’s decision to slash 1,000 positions across the National Park Service rattled employees nationwide. Park rangers, maintenance crews, and environmental experts now face heavier workloads and shrinking resources. Many fear these cuts will lead to unsafe parks, neglected trails, and poor visitor experiences.

American flag hung upside-down from a cliff face on Yosemire National Park, Photo Credit: CBS47 KSEE24/Youtube

Inside the Protest

Gavin Carpenter, a maintenance mechanic at Yosemite, provided the flag for the protest. In an interview with The San Francisco Chronicle, he explained the motivation behind the act.

“We want to shed light on the challenges facing our national parks, which are owned by every American,” Carpenter said. “We’re losing staff, and if we want to keep the parks open, this isn’t sustainable.”

Protest Gains Public Support

Photographer Brittany Colt snapped a photo of the inverted flag and shared it online. Her post quickly went viral. She spoke out about the real human cost behind the staffing cuts.

“This hit me personally,” Colt wrote. “Friends of mine lost their jobs overnight. These weren’t just jobs—they were essential services like Search and Rescue and keeping the park clean and safe. Without them, our parks suffer.”

A Partial Reversal

After mounting criticism, the Trump administration agreed to restore 50 positions and hire nearly 3,000 seasonal workers. While this move offers some relief, many employees remain concerned. They argue it’s a temporary fix for a much deeper issue—chronic underfunding and overburdened staff.

A Statement That Echoes

As debates continue about the future of America’s national parks, Yosemite’s symbolic act made one thing clear: the people who care for these public lands are speaking out—and they want the nation to listen.