DEVELOPING: Government Shutdown Threatens to Severely Impact National Parks Across the Country

Government Shutdown Threatens National Parks Across the Country As the government shutdown enters its fourth day, several national parks have been forced to close or operate under reduced staffing due to a lack of funding. The Grand Canyon, one of America's most iconic natural wonders, has closed its visitor center and limited access to trails. The park's website warns that "some services may be limited or unavailable" during the shutdown. Other parks, including Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming and Yosemite National Park in California, have also been affected by the shutdown. Some have reduced staffing, while others have closed entirely due to a lack of resources. The National Park Service (NPS) has not provided a unified plan for managing park operations during the shutdown, leaving visitors confused about which parks are open or closed. Park rangers and volunteers are working to maintain basic services, but many essential functions are being suspended. The impact on tourism and local economies is expected to be significant. This is a developing story, with updates to come as more information becomes available. *This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available. Based on reporting from Npr.*