Karmactive Staff
The Trump administration’s decision to keep national parks “partially open” with minimal staffing during the federal shutdown has sparked serious concerns about visitor safety and potential damage to natural resources.
About 64% of National Park Service staff—roughly 9,296 employees—have been furloughed as the government shutdown begins. Only “excepted” workers handling law enforcement, emergency response, and critical safety functions remain on duty, creating what officials call “skeleton crews” at parks nationwide.
This approach mirrors the strategy used during the 2018-2019 shutdown, when similar staffing cuts led to documented vandalism and resource damage. During that 35-day closure, vandals cut down century-old Joshua trees in California’s Joshua Tree National Park, created illegal roads with off-road vehicles, and stole artifacts from historical sites.
Areas in Death Valley suffered from illegal off-roading, while human waste and trash piled up in Yosemite.
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“Keeping our national parks open after Trump and Republicans forced a government shutdown is stupid, short-sighted and incredibly dangerous,” said Stephanie Kurose, deputy director of government affairs at the Center for Biological Diversity. “We’ve seen the irreparable harm that can happen when our parks go understaffed.”
The current plan allows roads, trails, lookouts, and open-air memorials to remain accessible while buildings requiring staff supervision—including visitor centers and monuments like the Washington Monument—will be closed. The administration plans to use recreation fees to maintain limited services such as restrooms and trash collection.
This fee diversion strategy has drawn criticism from legal experts, as the Government Accountability Office previously found the practice unlawful during the 2018-2019 shutdown. The report stated Interior’s use of Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act fees for basic operations violated appropriations law.
The economic stakes are significant. The National Parks Conservation Association estimates gateway communities could lose approximately $80 million per day in visitor spending, with parks themselves losing up to $1 million daily in fee revenue if access becomes constrained.
More than 35 former park superintendents have urged the administration to fully close the parks during the shutdown. Their letter cited specific concerns about vandalism, trash buildup, and human waste problems that caused lasting damage during previous shutdowns.
The staffing situation is particularly troubling as the National Park Service was already facing workforce challenges. Reports indicate the agency has lost about 24% of its permanent staff since January through earlier cuts, forcing parks to reduce ranger programs and close some facilities even before the shutdown began.
As visitors continue making fall travel plans, park advocates warn that keeping sites open with minimal oversight puts both people and irreplaceable natural treasures at unnecessary risk.
