How the government shutdown affects communities near public lands

Thursday, October 16, 2025

Two people hike at Glacier National Park, Montana. GlacierNPS, Flickr

A new interactive map 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 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 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, 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 of the workforce at public land agencies was fired or bought out.

                            Quick hits
                        

A push for ‘global energy dominance’ puts Alaskan wildlands at risk

Seattle Times

Unprecedented use of this law could throw all federal land-use plans into ‘chaos’

Deseret News

Tribes launch Chuckwalla National Monument commission

E&E News

Rain in southwestern Colorado raises rivers to levels unseen since the 1970s, water stored in one reservoir doubles

Colorado Sun

                            Quote of the day
                        

I still firmly believe that public lands can serve as a common ground.”

—Lincoln Larson, associate profession of parks, recreation, and tourism management at North Carolina State University.

                            Picture This

                        

@deadhorsepoint

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