Shutdown leaves national parks vulnerable

There are no winners in a government shutdown, and that includes our prized national parks.

As lawmakers dither on Capitol Hill — each side blaming the other for what might be the most senseless shutdown on record — more than half of the National Park Service’s federal workforce is furloughed. Of the agency’s 14,500 employees, about 9,200 are not allowed to clock in.

Yet national parks from coast to coast remain open with scaled-down services, including Glacier and Yellowstone.

This could become a dire situation if Congress’ shutdown drags on much longer.

It’s a lovely time of year to tour Montana’s parks, as changing foliage paints the rugged terrain in fireweed orange, aspen yellow and maple red.

Glacier visitation in October is often robust until access to Going-to-the-Sun Road is closed for the season. Last October, about 165,000 people entered the park, mostly at West Glacier and St. Mary.

Yellowstone, meanwhile, saw three times as many visitors in October 2024, with nearly half a million people touring its geysers and bison herds.

While these autumn totals don’t approach the millions of visits logged at Glacier and Yellowstone during the summer months, they still represent a significant strain on park infrastructure and services.

Without federal employees on site to help manage the crowds, Montana’s treasured parks are at risk of abuse.

The National Parks Conservation Association noted as much last week in a letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, urging him to consider the shutdown’s impact on national parks and monuments.

Consequences from past shutdowns in 2018 and 2019 included irreparable vandalism and overflowing waste. In California’s Joshua Tree, iconic trees were cut down. In Texas’ Big Bend, ancient rock art was damaged. It’s disappointing some people have such disregard for these majestic places.

What might happen at Glacier or Yellowstone without adequate staffing to patrol the crowds?

“Park staff should not be forced to swing the gates open and walk away,” the association told Burgum.

Ideally — though unlikely — congressional leaders will make concessions and reach a compromise to reopen the government before this editorial goes to press.

If not, and the shutdown stretches into a second week, Burgum should do what’s best to protect our parks: close access until staffing levels are restored.

While that decision may not be popular, it’s the sensible choice amid a senseless shutdown.