Park workers say officials could push to leave parks open without staff – and exploit shutdown to impose further cuts
With the potential for another contentious US government shutdown looming large this week, national park leaders and advocates are growing concerned that the Trump administration could again push for leaving America’s parks open when they are unstaffed.
“National parks don’t run themselves. It is hard-working National Park Service employees that keep them safe, clean and accessible,” 40 former superintendents said in a letter issued to Doug Burgum, the interior secretary, this week, urging him to close the parks if a shutdown occurs. “If sufficient staff aren’t there, visitors shouldn’t be either.”
