US EditionNational Parks Caught in the Crosshairs of Government Shutdown
Glacier and Yellowstone remain accessible with limited staff and reduced services as private concessionaires operate and some states provide support during the ongoing federal shutdown.
- This week, the federal government shut down at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, furloughing roughly 750,000 federal workers while Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks remain open to visitors.
- The National Park Service has been shrinking for years, losing roughly 35% of staff systemwide, and a Glacier internal memo reported 20% vacancies amid Congress' funding impasse.
- The NPS contingency plan released late Tuesday states park roads, lookouts and trails "will generally remain accessible" while Xanterra at Glacier keeps lodges and restrooms open amid reduced staffing.
- An economic report found Glacier and Yellowstone generated roughly $1.5 billion in 2024, while states and third-party donors stepped in as various parks nationwide faced closures or service cuts.
- As experts warn about past damage, Stephanie Kurose called keeping parks open during shutdown 'stupid, short-sighted and incredibly dangerous,' citing risks of vandalism and ecological harm.
13 Articles
13 Articles
National parks caught in the crosshairs of government shutdown
As Congress remains at an impasse on an agreement to fund government operations, several sites under the National Park Service (NPS) have brought their operations to a halt.Across the country, parks have been forced to close, operate under reduced staffing or rely on outside donations to keep the lights on as the shutdown stretches into its fourth day.The lack of a unified plan across all parks and sparse details outlined by official government …
As federal government shuts down, visitors can still enter Glacier, Yellowstone national parks • Daily Montanan
The entrance sign to Glacier National Park, seen on May 19, 2025. (Micah Drew/Daily Montanan)Glacier National Park remains open to visitors during the federal government shutdown, which a former superintendent said could lead to trash pileup, a lack of communication for visitors and limited emergency response operations. Last month, former Glacier National Park Superintendent Jeff Mow joined more than 40 former national park superintendents in …
ABC FOX Montana
As federal government shuts down, visitors can still enter Glacier, Yellowstone national parks
Glacier National Park remains open to visitors during the federal government shutdown, which a former superintendent said could lead to trash pileup, a lack of communication for visitors and limited emergency response operations. Last month, former Glacier National Park Superintendent…
National Parks and Public Lands in Turmoil - Archaeology Southwest
Good morning, Friends, Here is your Preservation Archaeology news of the week. Please send us news stories; interviews, podcasts, publications, and jobs; notices of upcoming events and webinars; info about forthcoming tours and workshops; and anything else you’d like to share with this group. Thanks! Recent Archaeology Southwest blog posts on the National Tribal Historic Preservation Officers’ Conference and Skylar Begay’s week in DC with the Na…
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