The U.S. government officially shut down at midnight after Congress failed to reach a funding deal, and the National Park Service intends to keep national parks open with skeletal staffing during the shutdown. A memo obtained by the New York Times, journalist Wes Siler, and E&E News on Tuesday evening indicated that the Park Service will drop from 15,000 to just 3,000 employees covering more than 400 National Park Service units across 85 million acres of national public lands.
An updated “National Park Service Contingency Plan” posted late Tuesday evening states that “park roads, lookouts, trails and open-air memorials will generally remain accessible to visitors” during the shutdown. The plan also states that park entrance fees can provide minimal visitor services during the shutdown, which the Government Accountability Office has already said is a clear violation of the Antideficiency Act.
The decision to keep parks open comes despite pleas from former park staff to close parks for the safety of visitors and protection of natural and cultural resources. The Trump administration also kept parks open during the government shutdown in 2018, a disastrous decision that resulted in overflowing toilets, piles of trash and human waste, and damage to sensitive ecosystems.
“These shutdown plans show just how little respect Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has for America’s public lands. America’s crown jewels, our national parks, will be unprotected and at risk,” said Center for Western Priorities Executive Director Jennifer Rokala.
Politico also reports that the Bureau of Land Management intends to designate employees who process oil and gas drilling permits as essential workers, keeping them on the job during a government shutdown despite a lack of funding.
Quick hits
Colorado is a leader in wildlife crossings but funding cuts threaten protections
Opinion: The greatest threats to Nevada’s public lands aren’t dead — they’re rushing through Congress
National parks will remain open during shutdown
New York Times | KQED | E&E News | NBC News | Moab Times-Independent | Mountain Journal | The Hill | Wes Siler’s Newsletter | KUNM | National Parks Traveler | Center for Western Priorities [press release]
Environmental review bill would sharply restrict public challenges to federal projects
National monument advisory panels renewed
Opinion: Trump’s administration can’t grasp that some American lands should remain wild, without roads or logging
Will mining destroy America’s most-visited wilderness?
Wyoming governor cheers Trump’s coal revival plan while environmentalists warn of disaster
Quote of the day
This awful situation is President Trump’s dream for America’s public lands: exploit what you can and trash the rest. America’s public lands and the people who care for them deserve better.”
—Jennifer Rokala, Center for Western Priorities Executive Director
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@nationalparkservice
King of Chonk: 32 Chunk clinches the crown!
Fat Bear Week 2025 wrapped with a plump-tastic finale as the junk in the trunk of 32 Chunk proved too much for Bear 856. Congrats to both bears for making it to the finale. Heavy is the Bear that wears the crown. Chunk may have waddled off with this year’s title, but in the end, every bear is a winner. Thanks to everyone across the globe for joining the furry, fish-fueled party! Special thanks to the salmon.
As another #FatBearWeek concludes, we hope you soaked up some bear-y cool facts about these beefy bruins, learned more about the important Katmai ecosystem, annoyed as many friends as possible with your new bear facts and vote requests, and above all, remembering that a fat bear is a healthy bear.
Thanks to @exploreorg for another successful Fat Bear Week!
Featured photo: Joshua Tree National Park during the 2018–2019 government shutdown. Photo: NPCA