Yosemite National Park has dismissed ranger and wildlife biologist Shannon “SJ” Joslin after the 35-year-old helped unfurl a 66-foot-wide transgender pride flag on the face of El Capitan in May. A termination letter cited “failing to demonstrate acceptable conduct” connected to the 20 May display, which lasted about two hours before the climbers took the banner down. Joslin told the Associated Press the stunt was carried out while off-duty with six other climbers, including two fellow rangers who are now on administrative leave. Park officials said they are working with the U.S. Justice Department on potential administrative penalties for employees and possible criminal charges against several visitors involved. The day after the flag was hung, Acting Superintendent Ray McPadden imposed a rule barring banners, flags or signs larger than 15 square feet in areas classed as wilderness or potential wilderness—territory that covers 94 percent of the park. Yosemite says the restriction protects both the landscape and climbers and follows complaints about earlier unsanctioned demonstrations on the granite monolith. The episode comes amid a broader crackdown on protests on federal land and as the Trump administration advances policies limiting transgender rights. Yosemite drew more than four million visitors last year, while the National Park Service has shed roughly 2,500 positions since 2021 and faces a proposed $900 million budget cut in the coming fiscal year.