White House Withdraws Nomination of Scott Socha to Lead National Park Service

Conservation groups questioned Socha’s qualifications and raised concerns about industry ties soon after his nomination was announced in February.

The National Park Service logo at a Joshua Tree National Park visitor center in Twentynine Palms, Calif., on Feb. 20, 2025. Mario Tama/Getty Images

President Donald Trump’s nomination of hospitality executive Scott Socha to serve as director of the National Park Service has been withdrawn.

In a notice sent to the Senate on April 27, the White House listed Socha among nominations withdrawn from consideration, saying that his nomination for National Park Service director, transmitted to the Senate on Feb. 11, had been pulled back.