With a government shutdown looming, national parks have been the center of attention as the political battlefield unfolds. If Federal funding expires on October 1st, national parks will lose their funds. Workers, except for a skeleton crew, will be furloughed, and former superintendents are urging the national parks to close their doors to all visitors.
One state, however, is already signaling its intent to stay open in the face of a government shutdown. With five national parks in its state, Utah is promising to keep the gates open for visitors in the face of funding loss. That means that visitors will still be able to enjoy the views of Zion, Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef National Parks throughout the potential shutdown.
Despite the bravado, the question remains, how will Utah's national parks function with limited staff and no funding? Like most national parks across the country, Utah's "Mighty Five" are already working with reduced staff as a result of Trump's executive orders in February and March. So why risk the fragile ecosystems by keeping the parks open during a shutdown?
What Happens To National Parks During A Government Shutdown?
In order to understand the significance of Utah's proclamation, one must first understand what exactly happens to National Parks when a government shutdown occurs.
As federally funded entities, national parks lose their funding when the government shuts down. The most noticeable change is in staff numbers. When a shutdown occurs, all but the most essential staff are furloughed, meaning they go on unemployment and do not go to work until funding is restored. This is particularly concerning in the face of the impending government shutdown, as staffing at national parks is already at an all-time low after seasonal hiring was frozen and hundreds of probationary staff were laid off in February and March 2025.
Without government funds, technically, national parks are supposed to close their doors as they cannot collect entrance fees or staff other necessary facilities. However, during previous shutdowns, through the sheer willpower of the staff, national parks have kept their gates open and continued to allow visitors each day.
Unfortunately, those closures have also revealed why a full staff is necessary for parks to function safely. During prior shutdowns, trash has not been collected, safety notices have not been put out, and ranger presence near trailheads has been missing. This is proven damaging to wildlife and the trails, leading to major cleanup and restoration efforts in the aftermath.
In a joint letter, 35 former superintendents of national parks urged current staff to completely shut down national parks this time around. With most parks already working on a skeletal staff, the idea of furloughing any percentage of the current workforce would be disastrous for the parks themselves, the superintendents argue.
How Utah's National Parks Plan To Weather A Government Shutdown
Despite the call from the former superintendents, Utah's national parks have no intention of closing in the face of a government shutdown. In multiple statements, state and park officials confirmed their commitment to keeping the national parks open in the face of a shutdown.
...Bryce Canyon National Park will be open and will basically be operating just like any other day even if there is a "shut down." This is possible due to the superior leadership of our friends at the Bryce Canyon Association. - Bryce Canyon National Park Statement via Instagram
Their reasoning is simple; the national parks are just too important to Utah's economy to risk shutting them down, even for a short period of time. Data from the National Park Service states that Utah's five national parks generate a combined $3.1 billion for Utah's economy. This total revenue also includes over 26,000 jobs created by the park and its surrounding communities. Given that a reduction in international tourism has already put a dent in revenue, the thought of completely closing national parks is out of the question for Utah's state leaders.
This is far from the first time Utah has faced the threat of a government shutdown ending its tourism revenue. After the threat of a government shutdown in 2023, state leaders earmarked $5 million with the cooperation of the State Department of the Interior for the express purpose of funding its national parks in the event of a government shutdown. Should Wednesday's shutdown occur, those funds will be activated and Utah's parks will be able to continue to operate.
This is particularly significant for the staff at the national parks, who will be able to continue to work on site instead of being furloughed as is customary. However, Utah's plan to keep its National Park open isn't without its drawbacks. There is a reason these sites are federally funded instead of state-funded. A state-led National Park is likely to see significant cutbacks in services available within the park.
Even with the state and non-profits stepping in (as was seen in 2023 when the non-profit Zion Forever Project contributed funds to keep Zion open), previous closures have led to the temporary closure of certain visitors centers and the cancellation of ranger-led programs. Some staff may still be furloughed in the event of a shutdown depending on the length of the shutdown and how far the state's allotment of funds has to go.
Gateway Towns Can't Afford For Utah To Close Its National Parks
Across Utah's five national parks, there are numerous gateway cities that depend on tourism for their livelihoods, including Springdale outside Zion National Park and Moab near Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. Unlike gateway towns like Estes Park, Colorado and Jackson Hole, Wyoming, the gateway towns in Utah have not turned themselves into tourist attractions independent of the national parks.
The services they offer, items they sell, and the atmosphere that they provide all feed into the national parks that they support. Without access to the national parks, traffic to these destinations would all but stop, putting livelihoods at risk at a faster rate than some other gateway towns across the US.
| 2024 Total Revenue Generated | $3.1 billion |
| Daily Revenue | ~$500,000 |
| Jobs Created | 26,507 |
| Potential Funds Lost In Shutdown | ~$52 million per week |
In 2013, a 12-day shutdown cost Utah an estimated $17 million, according to a report by Brigham Young University. Based on current projections about economic revenue in Utah's national parks, the state could lose upwards of $50 million in just a week if the parks were to close completely. As some of the most popular parks in the U.S., it is estimated that Utah would lose upwards of $500,000 per day directly from loss of park revenue.
With so many livelihoods on the line and so much money for the state at risk, Utah simply cannot afford to close its national parks. Thankfully, with such circumstances built into the budget, it seems Utah will be able to once again withstand the political storm and keep its national parks open if a government shutdown happens.