Do national parks close during a government shutdown? Here's what travelers should know.
With lawmakers caught in a gridlock over the next funding bill, the country is facing a potential government shutdown to close out the year.
On Tuesday, after lawmakers reached a bipartisan agreement to keep the government funded through March, President-elect Donald Trump later rejected the plan – leaving Congress scrambling to reach a resolution. With the deadline for funding runs out end of day Friday, the federal agencies that depend on Congress funding are put at risk for furloughing thousands of federal employees and pausing other vital resources.
With the National Park Service falling under one of those agencies, travelers with plans to visit the national parks during their holiday time off may be wondering if a shutdown could impact their visit.
Here's what to know.
Does a government shutdown affect the national parks?
Yes, a shutdown will close down NPS sites, including national parks and monuments. Facilities will also be closed or unstaffed as the federal employees will be furloughed.
The National Park Service did not comment to Paste BN on the potential impacts of a government shutdown. However, during September 2023's potential shutdown, a contingency plan was put in place to ensure the safety of the parks, wildlife and the public.
"In general, National Park Service sites will be closed during the period of a lapse in appropriations," the contingency plan stated. "This means that the majority of National Park sites will be closed completely to public access."
Although certain park areas are physically accessible to the public, the NPS planned to have "significantly reduced" visitor services and impose additional restrictions if even basic services could not be provided. "Accordingly, the public will be encouraged not to visit National Park sites during the period of lapse in appropriations," the plan stated.
The last government shutdown lasted 35 days between December 2018 and January 2019. During that time, the national parks took a hit.
Some closed completely, while others remained open, temporarily funded by state governments. However, many lacked the staff needed to maintain or protect them, leading to neglect and deterioration.
Visitors flocked to the parks since there was no staff to collect an entrance fee, which created a safety concern. Trash built up, toilets were left unclean and, in places like Rocky Mountain National Park, yellow snow accumulated for certain reasons.