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A Republican senator is accusing the Biden administration of trying to make a potential government shutdown as painful as possible for American families.
The National Park Service announced Friday that many of its parks will close in the event of a government shutdown, which could happen on Sunday at midnight.
“In the event of a lapse in annual government appropriations, National Park Service (NPS) sites will be closed. This means that the majority of national parks will be closed completely to public access. Areas that, by their nature, are physically accessible to the public will face significantly reduced visitor services,” NPS said in a statement.
“At NPS sites across the country, gates will be locked, visitor centers will be closed, and thousands of park rangers will be furloughed. Accordingly, the public will be encouraged not to visit sites during the period of lapse in appropriations out of consideration for protection of natural and cultural resources, as well as visitor safety,” it added.
Sen. John Barrasso led a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Thursday morning. (Al Drago-Pool/Getty Images)
Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., harshly criticized the decision in a statement on Friday after the NPS announced it would close the majority of its parks.
“Secretary Haaland is choosing to put politics ahead of people. The Biden administration has the ability to keep our nation’s parks open and accessible. Instead, they’re deliberately trying to make a government shutdown as painful as possible for American families and visitors alike. This outrageous decision will only hurt Wyoming’s gateway communities and the people who depend on the parks for their livelihood,” Barrasso said.
HOUSE LAWMAKERS MOVE TO PROTECT MILITARY PAY FROM LOOMING GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
US Park Rangers stand at the closed gate to Joshua Tree National Park, in Joshua Tree, California on October 2, 2013, the second day of the US government shutdown. Hundreds of tourists staying in landmark US national parks like Yosemite and the Grand Canyon face a deadline October 3, 2013 to leave due to the government shutdown. The National Park Service closed its gates on its 401 sites as soon as the shutdown went into effect Tuesday morning, October 1, 2013, leaving visitors — including many from overseas — frustrated at park entrances across the country. (ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)
Notably, over 48% of Wyoming is considered federal land, with 96% of Yellowstone National Park being in the state.
Members of the House of Representatives failed to advance a bill on Friday which could have prevented a government shutdown.
A procedural vote on the bill failed on its final passage with a 198-232 vote.
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Interior Secretary Deb Haaland speaks at an event to celebrate the designation of the Avi Kwa Ame National Monument on April 14, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)
21 Republicans voted against the bill, including Reps. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and Nancy Mace, R-S.C., and others.
Fox News’ Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.
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