AssetID: 55146433
Headline: UNCAPTIONED: Conservationists Warn Visitors to Stay Away from National Parks During Shutdown
Caption: Conservationists Warn Visitors to Stay Away from National Parks During Shutdown. Conservation groups are urging Americans to steer clear of U.S. national parks during the government shutdown warning that limited staffing makes visits risky for both people and the environment. The National Parks Conservation Association says more than half of the National Park Service's workforce is on furlough, leaving visitors "probably on your own" with few facilities or staff to help. Critics say keeping parks partially open echoes the 2018 shutdown, when vandalism, off-roading, looting, and littering damaged protected lands. Former superintendents wrote to the Interior Department last week calling the decision "reckless". They warn that fewer staff after this year's layoffs will make post-shutdown recovery even harder. Park advocates say visitors could face long waits for help in an emergency, while fragile habitats remain at risk. Despite the political standoff that triggered the shutdown, both parties are scrambling to keep parks accessible, citing the economic and emotional lifeline they provide to communities. Instructions: THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT
Keywords: Current affairs & Politics,Conservationists,National parks,Government shutdown,Limited staffing,National Park Service furloughs,Visitor safety risks,Environmental damage,2018 shutdown precedent,Vandalism and looting,Former superintendents warning,Interior Department,Staff layoffs,Emergency response delays,Fragile habitats,Economic and community impact
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