US Government Shutdown Impacts National Parks

5th October 2025

Conservationists have urged visitors to stay away from US national parks, as they called for the scenic attractions to close during the government shutdown. The National Parks Conservation Association said…
Read more >

Conservationists have urged visitors to stay away from US national parks, as they called for the scenic attractions to close during the government shutdown.

The National Parks Conservation Association said skeleton staffing means visitors will be “probably on your own” with limited facilities available to them.

The National Park Service oversees 433 sites.

Conservation groups and former rangers have objected to the sites being kept open during the shutdown.

They say it puts both visitors and park resources at risk.

The Trump administration kept national parks open during the last shutdown in 2018.

It led to vandalism, as some visitors drove through protected landscapes, looted historical sites and left litter.

See more on the BBC.