The Looming Government Shutdown Could Lead to National Park Closures and Furloughed Rangers
There is a possibility of a government shutdown, which could result in the closure of several national parks and the furloughing of park rangers. In response to this, some US governors have pledged to keep their iconic parks open by using state funds. According to the National Park Service, guest visits in 2022 increased by 5% compared to the prior year.
The Department of Interior has announced that if Congress fails to reach a budget agreement this weekend, entrances to national parks will be blocked, and thousands of park rangers will face furloughs. Interestingly, this is a reversal from five years ago when the Trump administration kept certain parks open, a move that was deemed illegal by the Government Accountability Office.
The majority of the more than 420 national park units will be closed to the public starting from Monday, as stated by Interior officials. However, the governors of Arizona and Utah have vowed to keep some of the most iconic parks, such as the Grand Canyon and Zion, open by utilizing state funds. The accessibility of other national parks will depend on various factors, including their size and location. Generally, if a site is closed during non-business hours, it will remain closed.
Tourist visits to national parks have been increasing in recent years and have now returned to pre-pandemic levels, with a slight increase compared to previous record-breaking years. In 2022 alone, the National Park Service recorded 312 million recreation visits, reflecting a 5% rise from the previous year.
About 13,000 out of the 19,000 National Park Service workers are expected to be furloughed, according to the agency’s contingency plan. The Department of Interior has stated that the public will be encouraged not to visit the sites during the shutdown period in order to protect natural and cultural resources and ensure visitor safety.
The National Park Service has the ability to enter into non-reimbursable arrangements with state, tribal, or local governments, as well as third parties, to secure donations for park operations. While the National Parks Conservation Association doesn’t oppose such agreements, they note that maintaining sites without sufficient staff and resources during a shutdown can lead to disastrous consequences. The previous shutdown in 2018 and 2019 resulted in overflowing trash cans and damage to the fragile ecosystem at Joshua Tree National Park.
Some politicians have called for alternative solutions to keep the parks open during a potential shutdown. Wyoming Republican Senator John Barrasso urged Interior Secretary Deb Haaland to utilize previously collected fees, although this action had been deemed a violation of appropriations laws in the past by the congressional watchdog.
Democratic Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs and Republican Utah Governor Spencer Cox have both expressed their commitment to using state funds to ensure visitors can still enjoy the natural beauty of parks like the Grand Canyon and Zion. They have highlighted the economic benefits to their states and the local communities that rely on tourism.
A shutdown could result in national parks collectively losing nearly a million visitors daily, potentially causing gateway communities to lose up to $70 million, according to the conservation association.
While some states, including South Dakota and Montana, have stated their intentions to keep certain parks open, governors of other states, such as Washington and California, have no plans to provide additional funding or staff to parks during a shutdown.
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