White House withdraws hospitality executive as nominee to lead the National Park Service
Source: NBC News/AP
April 27, 2026, 10:25 PM EDT / Source: The Associated Press
BILLINGS, Mont. — President Donald Trump is withdrawing his nomination of a hospitality company executive to lead the National Park Service, the White House announced Monday.
The withdrawal of nominee Scott Socha comes as the park service has been shaken by widespread firings as part of the Trump administration’s pledge to sharply reduce its size. No reason was immediately given for Socha’s withdrawal.
The park service is currently overseen by an acting director, agency comptroller Jessica Bowron. It did not have a Senate-confirmed director during Trump’s first term, when it was led by a series of acting directors.
Socha is president for parks and resorts at Buffalo, New York-based Delaware North, which has service contracts with numerous parks and describes itself as one of the world’s largest privately owned entertainment and hospitality companies. A White House spokesperson had said when he was nominated in February that Socah was “totally qualified” to execute Trump’s plans for the park system.
Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/white-house-withdraws-nominee-scott-socha-national-park-service-direct-rcna342423
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