Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities
** National parks will remain open and understaffed during shutdown
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Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Joshua Tree National Park during the 2018–2019 government shutdown. Photo: NPCA ([link removed])
The U.S. government officially shut down at midnight after Congress failed to reach a funding deal, and the National Park Service intends to keep national parks open with skeletal staffing during the shutdown. A memo obtained by the New York Times ([link removed]) , journalist Wes Siler ([link removed]) , and E&E News ([link removed]) on Tuesday evening indicated that the Park Service will drop from 15,000 to just 3,000 employees covering more than 400 National Park Service units across 85 million acres of national public lands.
An updated “National Park Service Contingency Plan ([link removed]) ” posted late Tuesday evening states that “park roads, lookouts, trails and open-air memorials will generally remain accessible to visitors” during the shutdown. The plan also states that park entrance fees can provide minimal visitor services during the shutdown, which the Government Accountability Office has already said is a clear violation of the Antideficiency Act ([link removed]) .
The decision to keep parks open comes despite pleas from former park staff ([link removed]) to close parks for the safety of visitors and protection of natural and cultural resources. The Trump administration also kept parks open during ([link removed]) the government shutdown in 2018 ([link removed]) , a disastrous decision that resulted in overflowing toilets, piles of trash and human waste, and damage to sensitive ecosystems.
“These shutdown plans show just how little respect Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has for America’s public lands. America’s crown jewels, our national parks, will be unprotected and at risk,” said Center for Western Priorities Executive Director Jennifer Rokala ([link removed]) .
Politico also reports that the Bureau of Land Management intends to designate employees who process oil and gas drilling permits as essential workers ([link removed]) , keeping them on the job during a government shutdown despite a lack of funding.
** Quick hits
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Colorado is a leader in wildlife crossings but funding cuts threaten protections
Colorado Newsline ([link removed])
Opinion: The greatest threats to Nevada’s public lands aren’t dead — they’re rushing through Congress
Nevada Current ([link removed])
National parks will remain open during shutdown
New York Times ([link removed]) | KQED ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed]) | NBC News ([link removed]) | Moab Times-Independent ([link removed]) | Mountain Journal ([link removed]) | The Hill ([link removed]) | Wes Siler's Newsletter
([link removed]) | KUNM ([link removed]) | National Parks Traveler ([link removed]) | Center for Western Priorities ([link removed]) [press release]
Environmental review bill would sharply restrict public challenges to federal projects
KUNM ([link removed])
National monument advisory panels renewed
E&E News ([link removed])
Opinion: Trump’s administration can’t grasp that some American lands should remain wild, without roads or logging
Writers on the Range ([link removed])
Will mining destroy America’s most-visited wilderness?
Washington Post ([link removed])
Wyoming governor cheers Trump’s coal revival plan while environmentalists warn of disaster
WyoFile ([link removed])
** Quote of the day
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” This awful situation is President Trump’s dream for America’s public lands: exploit what you can and trash the rest. America’s public lands and the people who care for them deserve better.”
—Jennifer Rokala, Center for Western Priorities Executive Director ([link removed])
** Picture This
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[link removed]
@nationalparkservice ([link removed])
King of Chonk: 32 Chunk clinches the crown!
Fat Bear Week 2025 wrapped with a plump-tastic finale as the junk in the trunk of 32 Chunk proved too much for Bear 856. Congrats to both bears for making it to the finale. Heavy is the Bear that wears the crown. Chunk may have waddled off with this year’s title, but in the end, every bear is a winner. Thanks to everyone across the globe for joining the furry, fish-fueled party! Special thanks to the salmon.
As another #FatBearWeek ([link removed]) concludes, we hope you soaked up some bear-y cool facts about these beefy bruins, learned more about the important Katmai ecosystem, annoyed as many friends as possible with your new bear facts and vote requests, and above all, remembering that a fat bear is a healthy bear.
Thanks to @exploreorg ([link removed]) for another successful Fat Bear Week!
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