Staff Reports
When it comes to turning government inefficiency into a case study, few examples are more glaring than the saga of the Cleetwood Cove Trail at Crater Lake National Park in Oregon. Surrounded by breathtaking views and natural splendor, this park is set to undergo a years-long renovation that even sloths would deem sluggish. It seems the federal government’s idea of “progress” is running through molasses, while the rest of the nation looks on in disbelief.
The project, expected to take three years for a single mile of trail rehabilitation, comes on the heels of an era where former President Donald Trump managed to reshape an entire ice rink in mere months. Back in the ’80s, Trump was handed the crumbling Wollman Skating Rink in New York City, a project burdened by incompetence and delays, yet he made it happen faster than one can say “drain the swamp.” The stark contrast only serves to highlight the absurdity of the government’s current pace.
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In stark comparison, the bureaucracy at Crater Lake has decided that quick fixes aren’t on the agenda. Access to this stunning lakeshore will be limited for what feels like an eternity—three years of trail closures—and even that is optimistic. The park officials, in their bureaucratic wisdom, anticipate potential delays, which might result in extended access limitations. Because, of course, nature and seasonal weather are the only factors influencing a timeline that makes glaciers look swift.
The rehabilitation plan includes some “improvements” to the trail, but isn’t “improvement” what taxpayer-funded projects are supposed to be about in the first place? Any semblance of speedy execution has been lost along the way. With construction set to start in 2026 and only three summer seasons to tackle the work, the end date of 2029 sounds eerily close to a bad punchline.
Sure, there will be some fancy trail work involved—things like retaining walls and composting toilets—yet no one should harbor illusions of timeliness. This is indicative of a broader trend of government inefficiency that the average American sees every day but can’t wrap their heads around. While we all appreciate that heavy snowfall limits summer drilling operations, the fundamental question remains: Why does it take the government so long to do anything?
If Trump were to look at this situation with the same perspective he took when he successfully revamped Wollman Rink, he might wonder how a task to repair a trail could bloat into a mammoth project requiring multiple summers. Wouldn’t it make sense to appoint some of those fast-moving “Trump-style” workers to turn this project around? After all, the only thing slower than the pace of Crater Lake renovations is trying to get the IRS to process a refund.
This entire episode reflects an urgent need for reform in how government projects are managed. As it stands, the people eagerly awaiting beautiful views in Crater Lake may need to suffer through years of inconvenience while the bureaucracy finds every possible reason to take its sweet time. The best way to underscore government efficiency might just be looking back at how Trump tackled Wollman Rink—and wonder aloud why similar principles haven’t been embraced at our national parks.
