Stay out of national parks during US shutdown, conservationists warn

October 2, 2025

The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) is urging visitors to avoid U.S. national parks during the current government shutdown due to skeleton staffing and limited facilities. While the National Park Service (NPS) is keeping parks partially open with essential services continuing, more than half its workforce has been placed on furlough. Conservation groups and former rangers are concerned that keeping parks accessible with minimal staff puts both visitors and park resources at significant risk, citing previous shutdowns where vandalism, off-roading, and resource damage occurred.

Who is affected

Park visitors
National Park Service employees on furlough
Wildlife and natural resources in the parks
Communities economically dependent on park tourism
Federal workers across government agencies

What action is being taken

The National Parks Conservation Association is actively warning visitors to avoid national parks during the shutdown
The National Park Service is maintaining essential services like restrooms, sanitation, trash collection, and road maintenance with a skeleton staff
Conservation groups are publicly raising concerns about visitor safety and resource protection
Former park superintendents have written a letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum opposing the decision to keep parks partially open

Why it matters

Visitor safety is at risk with reduced staff available to provide assistance in emergencies
Park resources and protected landscapes face potential damage from vandalism, off-roading, and littering
The situation is compounded by earlier mass layoffs that had already reduced park staffing levels
National parks attract approximately 325 million visitors annually, making their management critical
Parks provide economic and emotional benefits, particularly during stressful times

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC