The U.S. Shutdown’s Overlooked Long-Term Impact On National Parks’ Workforce

It’s no mystery that the current U.S. shutdown will have drastic consequences for the National Park Service (NPS). For instance, Shenandoah National Park may lose 10% of its 2026 budget as fees aren’t being collected, while visitors have noticed graffiti at Arches National Park . Yet, there’s another drastic consequence we rarely discuss.

The U.S. shutdown will make it even more difficult to hire new seasonal and full-time employees for national parks across the country. This is highly problematic since several parks are already struggling with a staffing shortage. So, how is the shutdown exacerbating the situation, and why are national parks facing difficulties in hiring staff?

Why The U.S. Shutdown Will Worsen The NPS Staffing Shortage

As thousands of NPS workers are now losing th