Yellowstone Faces Potential Closure Amid Federal Government Budget Impasse

Yellowstone's Biscuit Basin closed after a hydrothermal explosion. A federal shutdown could leave the park unfunded.
What happens to the national parks if the federal government shuts down?

Yellowstone National Park faces uncertain circumstances as a potential federal shutdown looms. On Monday, the park’s alerts page flagged Biscuit Basin’s closure due to a hydrothermal explosion and warned about dangerous rutting bull elk. However, it didn’t mention the risk of an unfunded park come Wednesday if Congress fails to pass a budget by Tuesday night. This uncertainty leaves national parks, part of the Interior Department, potentially closed or operating with limited staff.

Decisions remain fluid, as former Yellowstone Superintendent Dan Wenk explained to Mountain Journal: “There is nothing hard saying ‘this is what we’re going to do,’ so I think they have no idea how to react.” Park officials declined comment, awaiting federal guidance, while calls to Grand Teton National Park went unanswered. The federal fiscal year starts Oct. 1, but Congress has not confirmed spending beyond Sept. 30. Votes on a spending plan were due Tuesday afternoon, with possible shutdowns starting at midnight if either chamber rejects the plan.

This situation echoes 2018 when a standoff between Trump and Congress caused a 35-day federal shutdown, the longest in U.S. history. Back then, Yellowstone National Park and others had outlined essential services plans. In contrast, this potential closure could hinder Yellowstone during its active shoulder season. While roads remain accessible, and private wildlife tours continue, key park facilities like the backcountry office are due to close Oct. 13, limiting visitor access to important areas.

October is crucial for businesses near national parks, notes Wenk: “October can be an incredibly busy month around a national park. A lot of businesses depend on that shoulder season for what their profit margin will be for that year.” Meanwhile, essential federal employees must work without pay during a shutdown. This includes around 100 TSA and FAA workers at Yellowstone International Airport in Bozeman, according to Airport Director Brian Sprenger. Flights and security checks will remain unaffected.

Previously, in 2024 under the Biden administration, shutdown preparations were also underway, affecting about 737,000 federal workers. In 2018, the National Park Service used entrance fees for maintenance and law enforcement during the shutdown, but the Government Accountability Office later ruled such spending illegal. Comparatively, a 2013 shutdown cost over $500 million in lost visitor spending due to park closures, impacting more than 400 sites including monuments and parks.

Adding complexity, Trump’s Office of Management and Budget urged agencies to consider layoffs during a shutdown, potentially affecting the National Park Service, which employs roughly 20,000 full-time workers. A recent Government Executive report noted the Interior Department’s intent to continue staffing cuts after a court order paused such efforts, with a significant loss of employees already reported.

John Garder of the National Park Conservation Association voiced concern: “It’s unconscionable for the administration, after overseeing a 24% loss of the Park Service, to threaten another cudgeling that could mean thousands of additional Park Service personnel are fired.” As the Park Service struggles to maintain resources and prioritize visitor services, the threat of further cuts looms large.


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