National Parks Conservation Association

🚨 We are sounding the alarm 🚨 The government shutdown will leave our parks understaffed and vulnerable, putting our most cherished places and millions of visitors at risk. ⚠️ NPCA is calling on Congress to act immediately and pass a continuing resolution followed by the Senate Interior Appropriations bill that will allow our national parks to be fully open and protected. 🌳 Congress must also prevent any further mass staffing cuts of Park Service employees before it’s too late. 📖 Read More: https://bit.ly/4mUcCGA 📢 Act Now: https://bit.ly/430IbXR

Government Shutdown Update - Oct. 3, 2025 NPCA is keeping you updated on national parks during the federal government shutdown. John Garder, Sr. Director, Budget and Appropriations for NPCA discusses: 💡 The current state of staffing in national parks 💡 How the potential mass termination of federal workers could create a harmful “new normal” 💡 How you can help 📣 Stand up for parks. https://bit.ly/430IbXR

⚠️ Government Shutdown Update - Oct. 2, 2025 NPCA is keeping you updated on national parks during the federal government shutdown. Christina Hazard, Legislative Director for NPCA discusses today's topics: 💡 What happens to parks and their staff during a shutdown 💡 Why closing parks for now will help protect them 💡 Why we're concerned for NPS staff 📣 Stand up for parks: https://bit.ly/430IbXR

We love parks - but during a federal shutdown when thousands of park staff are furloughed, parks should close. NPCA's SVP of Government Affairs Kristen Brengel went on CBS News the night before the shutdown to explain how this protects parks and why we're concerned for NPS staff. Take action for parks: https://lnkd.in/ehJUPfTh

“The reality is, when you say the parks are open, but don’t staff them, you’re taking America’s best idea and inviting in the worst. This isn’t speculation...We lived through this before, & we don’t want to see it happen again.” - David Lamfrom, NPCA

With the deadline just hours away, NPCA is urging the National Park Service to close parks if the federal government shuts down. A shutdown would leave parks understaffed and vulnerable, putting our most cherished places and millions of visitors at risk. “NPCA will not stand by and watch history repeat itself... We know what happened last time park staff were forced to leave parks open and unprotected, and the impacts were disastrous... If the federal government shuts down, unfortunately our parks should too." - Theresa Pierno, NPCA's President & CEO

Future generations deserve to experience our national parks and public lands, just like we have been lucky enough to do. But staffing shortages, a looming shutdown and historical erasure are endangering the future of our national parks and public lands. We cannot be the generation who lets their protection fall to the wayside; we must speak up! This #NationalPublicLandsDay, safeguard our parks – take action with us at npca.org/actnow. Photo credits: 📍 Canyonlands National Park - Amy Hagovsky 📍 Coronado National Memorial - Caitlyn Burford 📍 Saguaro National Park - NPCA 📍 Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - Alison Heis 📍 Arches National Park - Rachel Holmes

🚨 Our national parks are in even bigger trouble than when we originally made this video. Even as they grapple with a severe staffing crisis, a potential government shutdown and the threat of even more cuts to staff and funding looms. The president proposed cuts and House’s budget bill would be detrimental to parks, slashing budgets for operations and staffing. 💡 The best option for parks is the Senate budget bill which holds funding steady, blocking reckless cuts and protecting the staff who care for them. If lawmakers fail to reach a funding deal by October 1, a government shutdown could force all 433 park sites across the country to close or partially close their gates or facilities. Use your voice: npca.org/savetheparks 

UPDATE: So sorry Park Protectors, but we're experiencing technical difficulties and need to postpone this to another day! Stay tuned. Ask Charlie Anything! Charlie Olsen, NPCA's Energy and Public Lands Policy Manager, will answer your questions in a Reddit AMA on Thursday, September 25th @ 4:00PM ET. If you've ever wondered about: ➡️ How federal energy and mining policies affect national parks ➡️ The biggest loopholes in current laws and why they matter ➡️ Recent policy decisions that open the door to development near parks ➡️ The tension between energy expansion and park protection ➡️ What people can do to make their voices heard in these debates Then we hope to see you here: https://bit.ly/3KhbTS8

📆 Your upcoming national park plans may need a backup plan. If lawmakers fail to reach a funding deal by October 1, a government shutdown could force all 433 park sites across the country to close or partially close their gates or facilities. This comes at a time when visitors are already seeing the effects of an understaffed National Park Service (they've lost at least 24% of permanent staff since January 2025), with closed facilities, cut ranger programs and more. Congress must come together, protect our parks and prevent a government closure!