February is one of the busiest times of the year at Yosemite National Park, drawing visitors eager to witness “firefall,” a breathtaking natural event where water flowing down Horsetail Fall on El Capitan appears to glow like molten lava.

Travelers from around the world flock to see this stunning phenomenon, with some booking entry tickets and parking spots a year in advance.

However, those visiting on February 22 saw more than just firefall. An upside-down American flag was also displayed over the side of El Capitan—reportedly hung by Yosemite employees in protest against recent staff reductions tied to cost-cutting measures under the Trump administration.

Traditionally, flying the American flag upside down is a symbol of distress.

Gavin Carpenter, a maintenance mechanic at Yosemite, spoke to the San Francisco Chronicle on Saturday, confirming that he had supplied and helped hang the flag.

“We’re bringing attention to what’s happening to the parks, which are every American’s properties. It’s super important we take care of them, and we’re losing people here, and it’s not sustainable if we want to keep the parks open.”

In 2023, Yosemite ranked as the sixth busiest national park in the U.S., attracting 3.89 million visitors.

Nestled in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, the park is home to the endangered California condor and boasts the world’s largest trees—the giant sequoias.

Concerns have been raised by park officials across the country about the impact of these sudden federal job cuts on the National Park Service.

One affected worker, Iowa park ranger Brian Gibbs, discovered he had lost his job when he was unexpectedly locked out of his email.

In a heartfelt Facebook post, he described feeling “absolutely heartbroken and completely devastated.” His message has since gone viral, being shared over 200,000 times.