WASHINGTON (RTWNews) — A coalition of former national park superintendents is urging the Trump administration to close national parks to visitors if there is a government shutdown.
In a letter addressed to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, 40 ex-superintendents expressed their concerns over previous shutdowns where parks remained open, leading to instances of vandalism of iconic symbols, habitat destruction, and endangered visitor safety.
The letter, sent Thursday, emphasizes that current conditions are even more precarious due to a 24% reduction in staff and severe budget cuts affecting park operations. They highlighted that Burgum’s secretarial order, which mandates parks remain open, has resulted in neglect of routine maintenance duties, including trash collection.
“It is reckless to leave parks partially open during a shutdown without sufficient staffing, putting both visitors and the parks' resources at risk,” the officials warned.
They pointed out that park staff are essential for everything from maintaining buildings and trails to educating visitors and conducting guided tours that help share America’s history. They expressed concern that long-term research projects may also be jeopardized if a shutdown occurs.
The letter was coordinated by the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks and the Association of National Park Rangers. Both organizations pressed for management of national parks to be prioritized both during a potential shutdown and beyond, advocating for visitor safety and conservation efforts.
In conclusion, the former superintendents highlighted the necessity of having adequate staffing to ensure the parks can be maintained safely, urging that if such resources are not available for visitors, they should not be allowed access.
