201. What the Shutdown Really Means for our National Parks and Gateway Communities

In this episode, we visit Yosemite, Joshua Tree, and Sequoia–Kings Canyon to understand how the 2025 government shutdown is affecting park staff, local economies, and conservation efforts across the National Park System.

While some parks, like Joshua Tree, appear to be operating almost normally, others are showing the strain. Visitor centers are shuttered, maintenance is delayed, and some rangers are working without pay or support.

Behind the scenes, nearly two-thirds of National Park Service employees — around 9,300 people — are furloughed or working without pay, and local communities are losing millions in visitor spending each day.

We talked with local business owners and visitors about how the shutdown is shaping their experiences — including Seth Zaharias, co-owner of Cliffhanger Guides in Joshua Tree, and Juan, a visitor from Ecuador whose U.S. park tour now looks very different under these conditions.

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