The likelihood of a government shutdown is almost guaranteed at this point, but for Utah, that does not mean that the national parks have to shut down too. In fact Utah’s leaders think they can keep the parks open as long as they have to.
Governor Spencer Cox said he, Utah House Speaker Brad Wilson, and Utah Senate President Stuart Adams “are all in agreement that it’s worth keeping the parks open.”
“Some counties are almost over 90% owned by the federal government. You shut down the national parks, it destroys their entire economy,” Adams told reporters during a news conference in St. George.
That is a problem especially if the government stays shut down for as long as 35 days, like the last one did in 2018-2019. At the worst of it, that is a whole month of tourists not coming, and park officials, maids, and servers not working or getting paid.
The 2018-2019 shutdown was the longest in history. This year’s shutdown could last only a couple of weeks, but PBS is leaving it open for more. Governor Cox said in a press conference that the shutdown “could be a long one.”
Hardline Republicans, backed by Donald Trump, are holding to their demands for budget cuts. Thursday they blocked Pentagon funding again, ahead of the September 30 deadline.
They continue to voice opposition to any kind of short-term bill for funding.
– The Byway
Feature image caption: A sign from the national park service in Washington, D.C., in 2013 informs the public that the national parks are closed. Utah has taken measures to keep the parks open during most government shutdowns, as much of the state depends on the parks for the economy. Courtesy National Parks Conservation Association.