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Former national park leaders are urging closures during a potential government shutdown.

They cite past shutdowns with minimal staff leading to vandalism and safety risks.

Utah had previously kept parks open using state funds despite the shutdowns.

WASHINGTON — With another government shutdown looming, former National Park Service leaders urged the Department of the Interior to close national parks if budgets are not approved in time.

In a letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, 40 former park superintendents, regional directors and a former National Park Service director made an "urgent appeal" not to leave the parks open should Congress fail to pass a new budget, as has happened in the past.

"Leaving parks open to the public with minimal — or no — park staffing is r

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