How The Potential Government Shutdown Will Affect U.S. National Parks

As the leaves start changing, you may be planning your next outdoor adventure to a national park. But with a government shutdown looming, you may be out of luck. Congress is once again gridlocked over how to fund the government. If lawmakers don’t reach an agreement by midnight on September 30, 2025, federal operations will grind to a halt — forcing many services, including national parks, into uncertainty. 

Why is the government about to shut down?

Republicans, even though they control both the House and the Senate, have not been able to pass a funding plan that both parties can support. GOP leaders introduced a short-term bill, called a continuing resolution (CR), that would keep the government open for seven weeks and add money for security. But it left out key health care funding, including Affordable Care Act subsidies and Medicaid dollars that millions of families depend on.

The House passed the bill, but Senate Democrats say they cannot support something that cuts families off from affordable care. With no deal in sight, a shutdown is likely.

What happens to national parks in a shutdown?

There’s no law that requires parks to close during a shutdown, but the National Park Service often has to reduce services or lock gates because staff are furloughed. 

Here’s what visitors should expect:

• Closed gates and buildings: Visitor centers, parking lots, and some trails may be shut.

• No programs: Ranger talks, tours, and educational events will be canceled. 

• No trash or bathroom service: Overflowing garbage and closed restrooms can create health hazards.

• Few staff on duty: Only some rangers will remain for emergencies.

• Permits and reservations on hold: Special events, camping permits, or new bookings won’t be processed.

• Lost revenue: Entrance fees may not be collected, cutting funds for park upkeep.

In short: even if some parks stay open, visitors should expect fewer services, more risks, and less protection for park resources.

Lessons from past shutdowns

• 2013: Parks closed completely. In just 16 days, parks lost 7.8 million visits and nearby communities lost about $414 million in spending.

• 2018–2019: Parks stayed partly open for 35 days, but trash piled up, bathrooms overflowed, and fragile resources were damaged. The economy lost an estimated $11 billion overall.

These examples show that keeping parks open without staff can sometimes do more harm than closing them entirely.

Why 2025 could be worse

• Staff shortages: The Park Service has lost nearly a quarter of its permanent staff this year, and many job offers have been rescinded due to a hiring freeze by the Trump administration.

• Local economies at risk: Parks bring in millions of dollars a day for nearby towns. A shutdown could cost $77 million per day in lost tourism spending.

• Resource damage: With fewer rangers, vandalism, poaching, and environmental harm become more likely.

• Political pressure: The Interior Department has reportedly ordered parks to stay open, even without enough staff, which many experts warn is reckless.