National Parks May Be Closing Starting Sunday

[maverick]

https://apnews.com/article/national-par ... 626bd9f236

https://www.sfchronicle.com/climate/art ... 394830.php

[balzaccom]

Yep. I've been told that as a USFS wilderness volunteer, we are NOT to tackle any activities after October 1, unless this shut down is avoided. They've even made the point that if we are in the backcountry on the 1st, we should not wear our volunteer patches of shirts on the hike out.

On the other hand, they haven't told us to stay out. At least, not yet.

[dave54]

"Essential Workers" get to keep working -- without pay. Basically, fire and LE.
When the budget hissy fit is over, everyone gets back pay whether they worked or not.

[dave54]

All averted. At least for 45 days. Then it starts all over again.

[davishere]

So in late Nov can we expect a start over?

[Lenier]

Almost certainly, considering who was elected speaker.

[creekfeet]

As someone that was working in Sequoia NP during the 2013 shutdown, I thought I'd add a little perspective. One thing I feel gets overlooked in a government shutdown is the human cost. Most government employees receive furlough pay during a shutdown, but the national parks also employ all sorts of people in the private and non-profit sectors that don't get paid in a shutdown, to say nothing of the small business owners in communities that rely on park tourism. Just about everyone I worked with in the Sequoia Parks Conservancy was temporarily laid off during the shutdown. Additionally, many Delaware North employees had their seasons cut short. I didn't much mind being laid off because we were allowed to stay in park housing for free for the duration, and getting to share the entire park with just fifteen people or so, and camp out in the Giant Forest and whatnot was the experience of a life time. But I knew plenty of people for whom the shutdown was financially devastating.

Additionally, I absolutely hated having to explain the shutdown to foreigners, who make up a huge chunk of park visitors. There was no easy way of explaining why their travel plans had been completely thwarted, all because our government was incapable of functioning. Keeping my fingers crossed that it won't come to this again.

[dave54]

In previous years Congress had a series of Continuing Resolutions to keep government funded. Maybe this year too. Or maybe wishful thinking.

IIRC one time the CRs went on the entire fiscal year, never did pass a budget. Memory fails me, what year was that?

[ironmike]

In previous years Congress had a series of Continuing Resolutions to keep government funded. Maybe this year too. Or maybe wishful thinking.

IIRC one time the CRs went on the entire fiscal year, never did pass a budget. Memory fails me, what year was that?

Three years: 2007, 2011, and 2013.