Call to close remaining US national parks ‘to protect wildlife’as federal shutdown continues

The United States federal government shutdown, which commenced on 1 October 2025, has persisted into its 33rd day with no resolution from Congress. Republican lawmakers propose a continuing resolution to fund operations through 21 November, while Democrats insist on extensions for healthcare subsidies expiring at year-end.

The impasse has furloughed 670,000 federal employees and required 730,000 essential workers to continue duties without pay. The Congressional Budget Office estimates a €0.92 billion daily loss in compensation for furloughed staff, with potential gross domestic product reductions of 0.9 percentage points if the shutdown endures four weeks or 1.8 percentage points for eight weeks.

The shutdown affects aviation through Federal Aviation Administration staffing shortages, which impacted nearly 50 per cent of the 30 busiest airports on 31 October. Air traffic controllers, numbering 13,000 and working without pay, report absences that led to 7,000 flight delays on 27 October and 8,800 on the preceding day. Ground delay programmes operated at Newark Liberty International Airport, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport due to these shortages.

The Essential Air Service programme, which subsidises flights to 170 rural communities, exhausts funding on 2 November, threatening service cessation in states including Alaska. Hundreds of controllers have accepted second jobs after missing full paychecks, exacerbating strain on a system already 3,500 controllers below target levels. Transportation Security Administration officers, totalling 50,000, screen passengers without compensation, contributing to longer queues at checkpoints.

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association states that 11,000 certified controllers remain active, though unscheduled absences occur daily. Airlines for America urges Congress to end the shutdown to avert safety risks and holiday travel disruptions. Training for over 2,000 new controllers halts, delaying modernisation efforts and safety redundancies. Flight delays average two and a half hours at affected facilities, with cancellations mounting nationwide. The aviation system records 13,000 controllers and 50,000 security personnel unpaid, prompting calls from pilots and airlines for immediate funding restoration.

Hospitality experiences €596 million in losses for the hotel sector alone since the shutdown began, with daily economic impacts reaching €28.5 million. The American Hotel and Lodging Association reports cancellations in bookings as federal workers reduce travel amid uncertainty. Over 30 hospitality associations, including the Asian American Hotel Owners Association and Latino Hotel Association, petition Congress to reopen government operations. The sector supports 2.1 million direct jobs and nine million total positions, generating €821 billion in annual gross domestic product and €78 billion in taxes. Event organisers invoke force majeure clauses to postpone conferences reliant on federal participation, such as those from the National Defense Transportation Association. The U.S. Travel Association tracks €1.1 billion in lost domestic travel spending in the first week, with ripple effects on restaurants, transport firms and tour operators. Uncertainty weakens traveller confidence, leading to postponed holidays and reduced international arrivals. Hotels in Washington, D.C., and gateway communities to national parks report occupancy drops of 15 per cent. The industry contributes €821 billion to gross domestic product yearly, with shutdown extensions projected to amplify losses through the winter season. Local economies dependent on tourism face revenue shortfalls, prompting discounts for affected federal employees at restaurants and attractions. National parks operate with partial access under contingency plans, though 64 per cent of National Park Service staff face furloughs.

Visitor centres, restrooms and gated parking lots close at sites including Everglades National Park and Joshua Tree National Park, while open spaces like the National Mall remain accessible. Ranger-led tours suspend, and emergency response limits to law enforcement and fire suppression. The National Parks Conservation Association estimates €0.92 million daily loss in visitor fees, with surrounding communities forfeiting €73.5 million in tourism revenue each day. States such as California and Colorado fund select parks through third-party donations, with Friends of the Smokies raising resources for Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Incidents of illegal camping and resource damage rise at Yosemite National Park, echoing 2019 shutdown effects where trash accumulation and tree destruction occurred.

Over 40 former superintendents urge full closures to protect wildlife and visitor safety, citing understaffing that endangers trails and historic sites. The service loses 24 per cent of permanent staff from prior reductions, with contingency funds from entrance fees covering basic maintenance at some locations. Arizona officials state inability to fund Grand Canyon National Park operations, projecting closures if the shutdown persists. Museums under federal auspices, including the Smithsonian Institution’s 21 facilities and National Zoo, shuttered on 12 October after exhausting reserve funds.

The Smithsonian, reliant on 62 per cent federal appropriations exceeding €0.92 billion annually, halted operations at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, Air and Space Museum and Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum in New York. The National Gallery of Art closed immediately, cancelling all programmes and exhibitions, including a major Australian Indigenous art display.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services ceases grant-making, affecting cultural programmes nationwide. Contract workers at these sites forgo back pay, while permanent staff await retroactive compensation. The American Alliance of Museums reports halted community services and lost tourism revenue, with the sector supporting 726,000 jobs and €45.9 billion in annual economic output.

The National Archives facilities, including JFK Presidential Library in Boston and Harry S Truman Presidential Library in Missouri, close to visitors. Ford’s Theatre National Historic Site limits access, suspending daytime tours though performances continue. The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts maintains shows using prior appropriations of €236 million for maintenance, but federal staff absences reduce resources. Museums nationwide pause federally funded initiatives, with 95 per cent of voters supporting maintained or increased appropriations. The shutdown disrupts scientific research and exhibit preparations for the U.S. 250th anniversary in 2026. Visitor plans upend, with refunds processed for pre-booked tickets at affected sites. The cultural sector contributes €45.9 billion to the economy yearly, with closures compounding losses for dependent businesses.

The White House attributes the shutdown to Democratic opposition, while Senate Democrats block Republican proposals lacking healthcare provisions. A Rhode Island federal judge orders the U.S. Department of Agriculture to distribute Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits using €4.6 billion in contingency funds, averting immediate pauses for 42 million recipients. Over two dozen states sue the administration to enforce payments, with a Massachusetts judge scheduling review for 3 November.

Military pay risks suspension on 1 November absent intervention, though Senate legislation proposes back pay for service members. The U.S. Postal Service operates normally, and Medicare and Medicaid continue uninterrupted. The shutdown marks the 11th in modern U.S. history and second-longest overall, surpassing 34 days from 2018-2019 if unresolved soon. Bipartisan calls mount from unions and industry groups for a clean resolution to restore services. The Office of Management and Budget directs agencies to evaluate staff reductions during the lapse. Economic analyses project partial recovery post-reopening, though long-term harms linger in delayed projects and workforce attrition. Congress reconvenes amid pressure, with no hearings scheduled through early November.

The impasse coincides with preparations for winter tourism, amplifying sectoral strains. Federal workers access food banks and discounts, while states mitigate impacts through local funding. The shutdown violates prior Government Accountability Office findings on fee usage for operations. International visitors reroute plans, affecting U.S. tourism targets. The National Park Service monitors resource protection with limited surveillance. Museums pivot to digital resources at si.edu for continued access. Aviation authorities impose flow controls to manage delays. Hospitality firms coordinate with associations for relief. The cultural sector halts 95 per cent of voter-supported programmes. National parks record increased unauthorised activities. The economy loses €0.92 billion daily in travel alone. Federal layoffs total hundreds across agencies.

The Smithsonian reviews exhibitions for compliance. Airlines report 95 per cent on-time goals unmet. Hotels forecast 20 per cent occupancy declines. Parks utilise €0.92 million daily fees for essentials. Museums lose €3.1 million in prior shutdown revenue. The shutdown persists without end date.