National parks face years of damage from government shutdown

When the government eventually reopens, park experts warn reversing damage won't be as easy as throwing out the trash.

January 4, 2019

National parks are America's public lands, but right now they're America's trashcans.

That's because the U.S. federal government, embattled over funding for a border wall, has shut down, leaving national parks open and largely unattended. Since the shutdown began, brimming trashcans, overflowing toilets, and trespassing has been reported at many parks locations.

“Never before have I seen the federal government tempt fate in national parks the way we are today,” says Diane Regas, president of the Trust for Public Land. “It's not about what has happened already. It's about what could happen if you don't have the appropriate staffing.”

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