Young Iowa Park Ranger fired from job and folks are blaming Donald Trump

HARPER’S FERRY, IOWA – A young national park ranger with a family in Iowa has been fired from his job, and Iowans are blaming Donald Trump and his minions for it.

“Brian Gibbs, Education Park Ranger fired from Effigy Mounds National Monument February 14, 2025 without any type of formal notice,” said Dianne Whitney of Harper’s Ferry, Iowa. “His work evaluation reads ‘exceeds expectations’. He is a dedicated civil servant and defender of public lands and waters. So many of us in northeast Iowa are devastated by this news. He is a hardworking young family man much respected in the community.”

This is one of many stories now circulating in Iowa and across the land as President Donald Trump, American Ruler Elon Musk and their new appointments to top positions lay waste to the federal government workforce. Iowans are coming forward, sharing stories that have touched them about folks close to them that are being fired with no notice, no cause – only a political ideology.

Brian Gibbs (pictured at top) of Elkader, Iowa, confirmed the firing from his park ranger job at Effigy Mounds National Monument. He appears to have a family that he supported with this job – but he will have to find a new means to accomplish this now.  Hundreds of Iowans have reacted to the news via social media, overwhelmingly supportive of this young public servant.

Below is a photo he shared, along with the devastation of losing his “dream job”:

I am absolutely heartbroken and completely devastated to have lost my dream job of an Education Park Ranger with the National Park Service this Valentine’s Day.

Access to my government email was denied mid-afternoon and my position was ripped out from out under my feet after my shift was over at 3:45pm on a cold snowy Friday. Additionally, before I could fully print off my government records , I was also locked out of my electronic personal file that contained my secure professional records.

Please know and share this truth widely:

I am a father, a loving husband, and dedicated civil servant.

I am an oath of office to defend and protect the constitution from all enemies foreign and domestic.

I am a work evaluation that reads “exceeds expectations.”

I am the “fat on the bone.”

I am being trimmed as a consequence of the popular vote

I am a United States flag raiser and folder

I am my son’s “Junior Ranger” idol

I am of the place where I first told my spouse I loved her

I am a college kid’s dream job

I am the smiling face that greets you at the front door

I am your family vacation planner

I am a voice for 19 American Indian cultures

I am the protector of 2500 year old American Indian burial and ceremonial mounds

I am the defender of your public lands and waters

I am the motivation to make it up the hill

I am a generational cycle breaker

I am the toilet scrubber and soap dispenser

I am the open trail hiked by people from all walks of life

I am the highlight of your child’s school day

I am the band aid for a skinned knee

I am the lesson that showed your children that we live in a world of gifts- not commodities, that gratitude and reciprocity are the doorway to true abundance, not power, money, or fear.

I am the one who taught your kid the thrush’s song and the hawk’s cry.

I am the wildflower that brought your student joy

I am the one who told your child that they belong on this planet. That their unique gifts and existence matters.

I am an invocation for peace

I am gone from the office

I am the resistance

But mostly I’m just tired.

I am tired from weeks of being bullied and censored by billionaires

I am tired of waking up every morning at 2am wondering how I am going to provide for my family if I lose my job

I am tired of wiping away my wife’s tears and reassuring her that things will be ok for us and our growing little family that she’s carrying.

Things are not ok. I am not ok. (This is the second time in under five years a dream job I worked has been eliminated. Now I may need to uproot my FAMILY again.)

Stay present, don’t avert your gaze.

Until our paths cross down the trail,
Fare thee well.

Ranger Brian