America's cherished national parks are descending into chaos as the longest government shutdown in US history continues, with reports of vandalised monuments, illegal activities and serious environmental concerns emerging from coast to coast.
Historic Damage and Lawlessness
Despite stark warnings from advocacy groups, the Trump administration has permitted numerous national parks to remain at least partially operational with minimal staffing and services. This decision has led to a dramatic escalation in incidents across the protected landscapes.
In a disturbing development at a historical military park in Pennsylvania, the Gettysburg Foundation reported in mid-October that a significant stone wall had been deliberately toppled. The foundation directly linked this destruction to the absence of staff caused by the shutdown and issued a public plea for visitors to exercise increased vigilance regarding safety matters.
The situation reached a dangerous peak in California's Joshua Tree National Park, where a 70-acre wildfire ignited near an unstaffed campground, highlighting the severe risks posed by the lack of oversight.
Illegal Activities and Public Safety Failures
The vacuum of authority has emboldened visitors to flout park regulations with impunity. On October 24, three individuals were convicted for illegal base-jumping in Yosemite National Park, having apparently calculated that diminished law enforcement presence would allow them to evade detection.
An anonymous park employee confided to SFGATE that a single wilderness ranger was attempting to patrol the vast expanse of Yosemite, enabling others, including campground squatters, to act without restraint. "There are lots of people that truly believe they can do whatever they want because of the lack of rangers. They've told us," the worker revealed.
Compounding the crisis are widespread reports of overflowing bathrooms, accumulated rubbish and poorly maintained trails, creating unsanitary and hazardous conditions for the public.
Ecological Consequences and Staffing Crisis
The staffing shortfall is creating potentially grave ecological and safety dilemmas. In Yellowstone National Park, Montana, the critical monitoring of "bear jams" has ceased. These traffic congestions occur when bears venture close to roads and normally require ranger management to ensure both human and animal safety.
Evan Stout, who owns and operates the Yellowstone Wildlife Guide Company, confirmed the alarming situation to SFGATE, stating, "The big glaring thing that's missing right now is the lack of resource rangers. The bear jams are pretty crazy. There's nobody overseeing those."
This staffing crisis was severe even before the shutdown began. According to the National Parks Conservation Association, the National Park Service has suffered a staggering loss of more than 25 percent of its permanent workforce since January.
Mounting Pressure for Park Closures
In a powerful response to the deteriorating situation, more than 450 former national park leaders united in late October, sending a compelling letter to Interior Secretary Doug Bergum. They demanded the immediate closure of all parks, citing the rapid increase in dangerous incidents.
Their letter, coordinated by the Coalition to Protect America's National Parks and the Association of National Park Rangers, delivered a stark message: "Our parks don't run by themselves. The dedicated staff of the National Park Service keep them clean, safe, and functioning. And as these latest, and sadly predictable, incidents clearly demonstrate, our parks cannot operate without them."
The letter further noted that over 40 former park superintendents had previously warned of exactly this scenario before the shutdown commenced, but their cautions were disregarded.
