National Parks to Close Amid Government Shutdown

National Parks to Close , Amid Government Shutdown.

As Congress has yet to pass a funding measure before the Sept.

30 deadline, a government shutdown appears imminent, Politico reports.

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On Sept.

29, the Biden administration announced that if a shutdown goes into effect, most of the nation's national parks will close.

The Interior Department will maintain crucial park duties, but staff who tend to visitors will be furloughed, Politico reports.

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At [National Park] sites across the country, gates will be locked, visitor centers will be closed, and thousands of park rangers will be furloughed, The Interior Department, via fact sheet.

Accordingly, the public will be encouraged not to visit sites during the period of lapse in appropriations out of consideration for protection of natural and cultural resources, as well as visitor safety, The Interior Department, via fact sheet.

However, state governments have the option of using their own money to keep parks open.

Arizona and Utah plan to utilize that course of action "to keep the Grand Canyon, Zion, Arches, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef and Canyonlands national parks" open, Politico reports.

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Arizona and Utah plan to utilize that course of action "to keep the Grand Canyon, Zion, Arches, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef and Canyonlands national parks" open, Politico reports.

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Arizona and Utah plan to utilize that course of action "to keep the Grand Canyon, Zion, Arches, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef and Canyonlands national parks" open, Politico reports.

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We expect to be reimbursed, just as federal employees receive back pay during a shutdown, and we have communicated this to the Department of Interior, Utah Gov.

Spencer Cox, via statement.

Last year, over 312 million people visited national parks, bringing in about $24 billion for local economies.

The decision to shut them down contrasts actions taken by the Trump administration amid a 2018 government shutdown, Politico reports.

During that year's 35-day shutdown, parks remained open without staff.

Several, such as Joshua Tree National Park, were damaged by visitors