A government shutdown caused severe park damage, wildfires, and safety risks due to staff cuts.

A prolonged government shutdown has severely impacted U.S. national parks, with widespread vandalism, unmanaged wildfires, and dangerous wildlife encounters due to staffing cuts. At Joshua Tree, Gettysburg, Yosemite, and Yellowstone, monuments were damaged, trash piled up, and unattended emergencies occurred, including a 70-acre fire and deadly bear jams. Over 25% of National Park Service staff have been lost since January, prompting over 450 former leaders to urge park closures. Despite warnings, the Trump administration maintained partial operations with minimal personnel, leaving parks vulnerable to long-term harm and public safety risks.