Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities
** How the government shutdown affects communities near public lands
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Thursday, October 16, 2025
Two people hike at Glacier National Park, Montana. GlacierNPS, Flickr ([link removed])
A new interactive map ([link removed]) from the Center for American Progress shows how many public lands employees have already been furloughed or laid off as a result of the ongoing government shutdown and which local economies will be affected.
Since layoffs began last Saturday, about 4,200 workers ([link removed]) across at least seven agencies lost their jobs. Not only do these firings impact the livelihoods of public lands workers, but they can also have drastic impacts on local economies—outdoor recreation is a significant economic driver ([link removed]) for communities across the country, so layoffs, budget cuts, limited access, reduced tourism, and minimal visitor services can all negatively impact local economies that rely on fully funded and fully staffed public lands.
According to the article ([link removed]) , nearly half of the current public lands workforce—more than 29,000 people—is furloughed during the shutdown, and currently furloughed employees are at risk of being fired. Land management agencies were already understaffed before the government shutdown—from March 2024 to September 2025, 20 percent ([link removed]) of the workforce at public land agencies was fired or bought out.
** Quick hits
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A push for ‘global energy dominance’ puts Alaskan wildlands at risk
Seattle Times ([link removed])
Unprecedented use of this law could throw all federal land-use plans into ‘chaos’
Deseret News ([link removed])
Tribes launch Chuckwalla National Monument commission
E&E News ([link removed])
Rain in southwestern Colorado raises rivers to levels unseen since the 1970s, water stored in one reservoir doubles
Colorado Sun ([link removed])
Mike Lee bills would increase off-highway vehicle use on public land
E&E News ([link removed]) | National Parks Experience ([link removed]) [column]
Colorado National Monument feeling effects of government shutdown
Western Slope Now ([link removed])
How Indigenous practices can help protect forests
Washington Post ([link removed])
Opinion: What a Hatch Act complaint says about the future of conservation
North Carolina State University ([link removed])
** Quote of the day
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” I still firmly believe that public lands can serve as a common ground.”
—Lincoln Larson ([link removed]) , associate profession of parks, recreation, and tourism management at North Carolina State University.
** Picture This
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@deadhorsepoint ([link removed])
Ever wanted to touch the clouds? A cool phenomenon pictured here at Dead Horse Point can make it seem not only like you are above the clouds, but also in them as the vapors rise over the canyon edges and creep across the ground through the park. On days like this with clouds constantly changing, you can get a view of the canyon that is entirely unique to you!
Post by Ranger Georgia
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