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While the Trump administration leaves national parks open and understaffed during the government shutdown, millions of acres of other public land also technically remain open, but visitors should expect fewer services, according to federal contingency plans for the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service.
The BLM is furloughing 2,400 of its 9,250 employees. Those involved in fire suppression, law enforcement, and emergency response will continue working. Some BLM campgrounds and visitor sites will remain open, but restrooms, trash collection, and water services may not be maintained. Campground reservations aren’t guaranteed, and volunteers are barred from helping out during the shutdown. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has also ordered BLM staff that handle oil and gas permits and inspections to continue working.
“(Interior Secretary Doug Burgum) is trying to have it both ways and give oil and gas companies even more permits to drill while the government is shut down,” said Jennifer Rokala, executive director of the Center for Western Priorities.
The U.S. Forest Service will furlough 13,000 of its 32,000 employees. It will also close hundreds of remote recreation sites and reduce access elsewhere. Remaining staff will focus on wildfire management and safety, while prescribed burns, restoration projects, and grants for wildfire preparedness are delayed. Logging operations, however, will continue.
Interactive map highlights effects of staffing cuts on national parks
An interactive map created by Save Our Parks highlights how President Donald Trump's staffing cuts at the National Park Service, which has lost a quarter of its staff since February, are affecting NPS sites across the country. The map divides the impacts into categories, including: education and visitor services, emergency response, campgrounds and trails, and facilities and maintenance.
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I don’t believe that the existence of public lands is inherently political, and I think this whole process bears out that the public at large deeply cares for their public lands and wants to be able to have access to those lands.”
