A group of former national park superintendents is calling on the Trump administration to close the parks to visitors in case of a government shutdown.
Past shutdowns in which parks have remained open have led to the vandalism of iconic symbols, destroyed wildlife habitat and endangered visitors, 40 former superintendents said in a letter to Trump-appointed Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.
A shutdown now could be even worse as parks are already under strain from a 24 percent reduction in staff and severe budget cuts, the former park officials said in a letter Thursday. A secretarial order by Burgum directing parks to remain open has led parks to neglect trash collection and other routine maintenance work, the ex-officials said.
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