Government shutdowns are uniquely American—and they can hurt national parks and tourist destinations

The United States federal government is flirting with a shutdown that could have a serious impact on National Parks—and maybe even your own travel plans. While Congress has voted to extend its 2023 budget deadline, granting a few more weeks to come to an agreement, the US National Park System could close down by November 18 if a deal isn’t made by then. That means that if you have plans to visit a US National Park after November 18, you might want to start researching a contingency plan.

The US government has shut down 10 times in its history, all of which have happened since the 1980s. A shutdown occurs when members of Congress cannot agree on budget measures before a funding deadline. Because the government isn’t authorized to function without funding, it shuts down. So, employees including National Park and Forest Service rangers are barred from going to work. This is a massive bummer for travelers who have spent time planning trips to remote places like Grand Canyon National Park, Yellowstone, or the remote corners of Alaska. It’s also a huge economic problem for the communities around these parks.

In 2013, during the Obama administration, national parks were shut for 16 days, resulting in a loss of USD$414 million to communities around the parks that survive on tourism. While some people found other things to do in the areas of the parks they wanted to visit, others canceled hotels and rental cars, never showed up for those dinner reservations, and didn’t pay entrance fees to parks that could use the revenue. During a 2018 shutdown, the Trump administration allowed parks to remain open even as rangers were furloughed, and it did not result in visitors being on their best behavior. Rangers returned to work to find graffiti, litter, and human waste outside of locked bathrooms—expensive clean-up problems for a park system that’s already underfunded.

This time around, the National Park Service has announced that parks will be shuttered unless states volunteer to donate funding to keep them running—funding which they will not get back. A few states—including Utah, Arizona, and Colorado—have pledged to donate funding to keep many of their parks open in the event of a shutdown. Most have not, however, so popular parks including Yellowstone and Yosemite, will be shut if Congress fails to reach a deal. Parks that are physically incapable of keeping out visitors (such as the National Mall in Washington, DC) will remain publicly accessible, but people will be encouraged to avoid visiting.

“Accordingly, the public will be encouraged not to visit sites during the period of lapse in appropriations out of consideration for protection of natural and cultural resources, as well as visitor safety,” the NPS wrote in a news release about the potential shutdown. “Staffing levels and services including restroom and sanitation maintenance, trash collection, road maintenance, campground operations, and emergency operations will vary and are not guaranteed.”

When the US government shuts down, it creates financial strain and uncertainty well beyond the National Park system. During a federal shutdown, the government’s nearly 3 million civilian employees all go on furlough, so they’re unable to work or get paid during the shutdown period. While some essential staff may be called upon to work through furloughs, their paychecks can be delayed until after a budgetary agreement is reached. During the 2018 shutdown, some essential federal employees called in sick because they were unable to pay for childcare while their paychecks were on hiatus.

While every country has its own problems and political turmoil, the US-style shutdown is unique. While Congress is controlled by the Republicans, the Senate is controlled by the Democrats—and both need majority approval on the spending bill. The two parties won’t agree on what’s in the bill, so they don’t have enough votes to pass it. It’s illegal in the United States for the government to spend money without Congressional approval. That’s part of the reason why these shutdowns don’t happen elsewhere in the same way. In the UK, for example, the government is authorized to get an advance on the money it needs for the next fiscal year. Canada kept its government running in 2011 even when its parties failed to agree on a budget. Belgium, too, keeps running even in the absence of an elected government, which happened in 2010-2011 and 2018-2020, each time for nearly 600 days.

Even if the US avoids a shutdown, the budget under consideration includes cuts to federal land management that are harmful to public lands, according to the National Parks Conservation Association. The National Parks budget could see a 12.5 percent funding reduction, in spite of increased visitation at parks over the last decade. “This bill is a non-starter for anyone who cares about our national parks,” Theresa Pierno, head of the NPCA, said in a statement when the draft bill was put up for vote over the summer.

The reality is, money helps fund communities and conservation within the public lands we love. So if you are planning to travel within the US and enjoy some time outside in the coming weeks, consider stopping over in communities that serve as gateways to the national parks. There, you can support communities that keep our public lands accessible. 

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