Blue Mass Group

Reality-based commentary on politics.

Teasing out the truth and details behind the shutdown of the National Park Service

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My favorite federal agency, as I suspect is true for many Americans, is the National Park Service.  Not only do I visit sites under its care when I can, but have also volunteered for and been employeed by NPS and cooperating associations.  Of course, like many other things not absolutely essential it is currently operating with a skeletal staff, just enough for basic security, and the sites are not open to the public.

For some reason the NPS has become the right’s favorite scapegoat during the shutdown.  It’s as if for all the chest-thumping against government in the abstract, they are shocked, shocked to discover that the NPS is part of the federal government, specifically an agency within the Department of the Interior.  They express outrage that memorials are cordoned off or that joint jurisdictional facilities are affected even though they know the government has run out of authorized funds to keep them operational in a way the public can truly benefit.

The National Parks Conservation Association, which lobbies and raises additional funds on behalf of the parks, has a good article explaning how and why these lands and facilities are off limits for the time being.

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    • The NPS had no choice, especially since I doubt you would argue that the NPS is an “essential service.” As much as I like them even I would not make the argument NPS is essential. The article you link describes deliberate action where choices were available.

      • Are 100% of their employees furloughed? How many NPS people are needed at the memorials? I just don’t see why they can’t keep a few things running.

        • …in large part because one Congressman made an absolute jerk of himself berating an NPS employee at the WWII memorial. Perfect example of preventing its operation then turning around and protesting that its not in operation. No, 100% of the employees aren’t furloughed, but what’s left is just enough for security, which is all they can have right now per the article I linked.

          • This is from ABC news. Apparently there won’t be anyone to empty the trash or answer questions, Security will be the same.

            The head of the US Park Police officers’ union told ABC News that safety and health concerns seemed to outweigh the inconvenience to tourism.
            “My understanding is that one of the reasons these areas are closed is because maintenance people aren’t going to be there, [park rangers] aren’t going to be there to give information about these areas,” union chair Ian Glick said. “Maintenance also deals with trash pickup. The memorials will become very messy. We’ve had people slip and fall because they don’t know where the wheelchair ramps are. Park rangers generally direct them.”
            Glick pointed out that, in addition to dealing with tourists, park rangers also act as extra eyes and ears for law enforcement. To compare police presence to overall staffing, he said, was “talking about apples and bananas. They aren’t even the same shape.”
            “Simply from an operational and not security perspective, I think it makes sense [to close the sites],” Glick added. “Visitors leave trash and I know people will say, ‘Oh a couple of soda cans being left around.’ No, that’s not the case. We get tons of trash. Lots of trash. If it’s not picked up, it will invite rats.”

  2. As a federal employee I went through a few budget crisis times. The deal was always to take away important services from the public. But, the assistant to the assistant whose only job seemed to be to keep the coffee machine working, kept his position. While it seems no different with NPS, they do bring a certain vindictiveness to their jobs. Obviously the People are their enemy.

    Interesting how the same memorials are off limits to Vietnam veterans, Iwo Jima veterans, but open to the administration supported immigration rally.

    These are open-air places. No more than sidewalks. The withholding of NPS personnel walking around would not be a problem.

    • …though I have a hard time taking seriously an article that invokes Godwin in its headline. I need more info on the rally. Maybe there is still special permitting, but to lay it on the administration sounds more like a talking point than the whole truth.

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