"It’s day six of the government shutdown, and our national parks are already feeling the strain. Nearly two-thirds of park staff are furloughed, leaving only a skeleton crew to protect resources and keep visitors safe." - Theresa Pierno, NPCA's President & CEO
Washington, DC - The confusion we saw this weekend in many of our national parks is just the beginning. With more than 9,000 park staff furloughed, millions of visitors are now left without reliable, up-to-date information on safety conditions, road closures or facility access. And parks are being forced to remain open with only a skeleton crew of staff to protect resources and manage visitors. Every day this shutdown drags on, our national parks will lose up to $1 million in visitor fee revenue, while gateway communities that depend on park tourism stand to lose as much as $80 million in visitor spending.
The solution is clear: Secretary Burgum must close parks until the shutdown ends. Join us in calling on the administration to protect park wildlife, historic artifacts, fragile landscapes, and visitors by doing what’s right.
NPCA will continue to closely monitor conditions across the National Park System. We also have photos available that show the growing challenges at park sites across the country.
Statement by Theresa Pierno, President and CEO of the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA):
“It’s day six of the government shutdown, and our national parks are already feeling the strain. Nearly two-thirds of park staff are furloughed, leaving only a skeleton crew to protect resources and keep visitors safe. Yet, Secretary Burgum insists on keeping gates open.
“What we saw in some of our national parks this weekend is a warning of what’s to come. At Great Falls, visitors parked illegally and climbed around barricades to get in. And at Gateway, crowds packed the beach, parking wherever they could with no staff to manage access, creating real safety risks.
“Months ago, the Interior Department consolidated Park Service communications staff, leaving parks without the people who keep visitors and communities informed. Now, during the shutdown, we’re seeing the consequences as critical updates on closures and safety conditions aren’t reaching the public.
“Fall is one of the busiest times of year for many of our national parks. Millions of visitors flock to Great Smoky Mountains to see spectacular foliage, Rocky Mountain to see iconic wildlife and Zion to enjoy world-class hiking. But we’ve seen what happens when parks are left open without enough staff. It’s unsafe and unsustainable.
“Some parks are making the tough decision to close facilities and limit access because they know the alternative can mean irreparable damage. What visitors can do and see will vary dramatically park by park, and we urge everyone to prepare for a very different experience. Visitor centers and bathrooms may be closed, drinking water may be turned off and rescue services may be delayed.
“Our hearts go out to everyone impacted, including the thousands of park staff now furloughed without pay, and the millions of visitors whose once-in-a-lifetime trips are being upended. Parks and visitors alike are paying the price for Congress and the administration’s failure to act.
“Worse still, even amid this shutdown, reports indicate the administration is pressing ahead with plans for mass staff cuts. Our national parks have never faced a greater threat. If we don’t stop these senseless cuts now, this could mark the beginning of the end for the parks as we know and love them.”
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About the National Parks Conservation Association: Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its more than 1.9 million members and supporters work together to protect and preserve our nation’s most iconic and inspirational places for future generations. For more information, visit www.npca.org.
