With the threat of a government shutdown on the horizon, a coalition of former national park superintendents has taken a definitive stand by requesting the closure of all national parks. In a letter addressed to the US Secretary of the Interior on Thursday, the group highlighted the severe risks to park infrastructure and natural habitats due to potential understaffing.

The superintendents’ plea comes in anticipation of Congress failing to pass a funding resolution next week. They argue that previous shutdowns, which left parks open but understaffed, resulted in significant damage. "Past shutdowns in which gates remained open with limited staff have hurt our parks: Iconic symbols cut down and vandalized, trash piled up, habitats destroyed, and visitor safety jeopardized," the group stated in their letter.

This appeal is underscored by a distressing report from The New York Times, which found that at least 90 parks are already under strain trying to comply with Secretarial Order 3426. This directive mandates that parks remain open and accessible despite significant workforce reductions, a policy initiated under Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s administration.

The consequences of keeping parks open during the 2018-2019 shutdown were dire. Reports from that period tell of human waste and trash strewn across landscapes like Yosemite National Park, and instances of visitors driving off-road through fragile ecosystems. Descriptions of the parks during the shutdown ranged from a "free-for-all" to a "nightmare scenario," according to John Gardner of the National Parks Conservation Association.

The contentious Secretarial Order 3426 requires that any decisions to close parks or reduce services, even during a shutdown, be vetted by the National Park Service director and the Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks. This policy was enacted after significant staff cuts directed by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), leaving the national parks vulnerable in times of federal financial crisis.

As the deadline for Congressional action draws near, the voices of former superintendents ring out as a cautionary call to protect America's cherished natural landscapes from the unintended consequences of governmental gridlock. Their collective experience and the stark reminders of past damage paint a clear picture: to safeguard the integrity and natural beauty of the nation's parks, closures during a shutdown may be a necessary measure.