--- title: National Park Service and Forest Service Policies For Possible Government Shutdown description: In the event of a partial government shutdown, the National Park Service has informed some concessioners that they can operate during the shutdown if their continued operations do not result in the Park exceeding the number of staff which have been approved to support essential activities or otherwise do not cause the Park to incur […] --- [Skip to main content](https://www.gardenlawfirm.com/from-the-garden/national-park-service-forest-service-policies-possible-government-shutdown#main) [![The Garden Law Firm P.C. Logo](https://www.gardenlawfirm.com/hs-fs/hubfs/The%20Garden%20Law%20Firm%20P.C.%20Logo.jpg?width=325&height=37&name=The%20Garden%20Law%20Firm%20P.C.%20Logo.jpg) ![The Garden Law Firm P.C. 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[federal contract minimum wage](https://www.gardenlawfirm.com/from-the-garden/tag/federal-contract-minimum-wage) - [BLM leases](https://www.gardenlawfirm.com/from-the-garden/tag/blm-leases) - [FLPMA](https://www.gardenlawfirm.com/from-the-garden/tag/flpma) - [Forest Service helicopter](https://www.gardenlawfirm.com/from-the-garden/tag/forest-service-helicopter) - [Forest Service outfitter](https://www.gardenlawfirm.com/from-the-garden/tag/forest-service-outfitter) - [Forest Service small business set-aside](https://www.gardenlawfirm.com/from-the-garden/tag/forest-service-small-business-set-aside) # National Park Service and Forest Service Policies For Possible Government Shutdown ![Kevin Garden](https://www.gardenlawfirm.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Kevin%20Garden%20of%20The%20Garden%20Law%20Firm%202024.jpg?width=50&height=50&name=Kevin%20Garden%20of%20The%20Garden%20Law%20Firm%202024.jpg) In the event of a partial government shutdown, the National Park Service has informed some concessioners that they can operate during the shutdown if their continued operations do not result in the Park exceeding the number of staff which have been approved to support essential activities or otherwise do not cause the Park to incur expenditures or obligations in violation of the Anti-Deficiency Act.  However, each concessioner will need the permission of the Park Superintendent in order to continue to operate.  The criteria which have been provided are as follows: - The concessioner or CUA holder does not require access to a closed NPS facility or area. - The concessioner or CUA holder does not require NPS monitoring and regulatory oversight in the short term. - The concessioner confirms in writing that its existing agreement requires it to indemnify NPS and the United States for any liabilities that may be incurred as a result of its operations during the government shutdown. - The concessioner acknowledges in writing that NPS-provided visitor services will be unavailable, and emergency and rescue services will be limited. In addition, NPS’ general policy also states that “commercial facilities located on through-roads (roads or public highways that begin and end outside of a park, plus parkways) and public highways may remain open if doing so does not result in additional costs to the park (for example, the staffing of entrance stations).” The Forest Service has indicated that its intention is to follow the [same policy guidelines](https://www.gardenlawfirm.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/2720-U.S.-Forest-Service-Continuation-of-Permitted-Public-Services-During-a-Lapse-in-Appropriations-2018-01-1.pdf) which were issued last year.   Those guidelines allow concessions which do not require day-to-day Forest Service employee administration to remain open.  The agency will make this determination on a case-by-case basis.  However, the guidelines note that examples of concessions that meet these criteria are ski areas, resorts, concession campgrounds and outfitters and guides. **Tags:** [Industry News](https://www.gardenlawfirm.com/from-the-garden/tag/industry-news) ![Kevin Garden](https://www.gardenlawfirm.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Kevin%20Garden%20of%20The%20Garden%20Law%20Firm%202024.jpg?width=50&height=50&name=Kevin%20Garden%20of%20The%20Garden%20Law%20Firm%202024.jpg) Post by [Kevin Garden](https://www.gardenlawfirm.com/from-the-garden/author/kevin-garden) Whether you're a large-scale concessioner, a small family business, a guide, an outfitter, or an individual doing business or recreating on federal land, Kevin Garden has the experience and perspective to help. [Follow me on my website](https://www.gardenlawfirm.com) [Follow me on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100066387593247) [Follow me on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-garden-1315b330/) [Follow me on Twitter](https://twitter.com/gardenlawfirm) ### Related Articles ##### [![New Federal Contractor Minimum Wage Requires Government To Compensate Procurement Contractor](https://www.gardenlawfirm.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/The%20image%20depicts%20employees%20lining%20up%20to%20receive%20their%20paychecks-1.png?width=520&height=294&name=The%20image%20depicts%20employees%20lining%20up%20to%20receive%20their%20paychecks-1.png) Industry News New Federal Contractor Minimum Wage Requires Government To Compensate Procurement Contractor 1 min read](https://www.gardenlawfirm.com/from-the-garden/new-federal-contractor-minimum-wage-requires-government-to-compensate-procurement-contractor) ##### [![National Park Service Proposes Taking Over Longstanding Concession Operation](https://www.gardenlawfirm.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Picture1.jpg?width=520&height=294&name=Picture1.jpg) Industry News National Park Service Proposes Taking Over Longstanding Concession Operation 0 min read](https://www.gardenlawfirm.com/from-the-garden/national-park-service-proposes-taking-over-longstanding-concession-operation) ##### [![Court Suspends Forest Service From Enforcing Its Decision To Deny A Special Use Permit](https://www.gardenlawfirm.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/A%20serene%20landscape%20of%20the%20San%20Bernardino%20National%20Forest%20unfolds%20showcasing%20tall%20majestic%20pine%20trees%20reaching%20towards%20a%20clear%20blue%20sky%20In%20the%20foregrou-1.jpeg?width=520&height=294&name=A%20serene%20landscape%20of%20the%20San%20Bernardino%20National%20Forest%20unfolds%20showcasing%20tall%20majestic%20pine%20trees%20reaching%20towards%20a%20clear%20blue%20sky%20In%20the%20foregrou-1.jpeg) Forest Service Court Suspends Forest Service From Enforcing Its Decision To Deny A Special Use Permit 1 min read](https://www.gardenlawfirm.com/from-the-garden/court-suspends-forest-service-from-enforcing-its-decision-to-deny-a-special-use-permit) ### Sign up for news from Garden Law Make informed decisions in your business as a concessioner, guide, or outfitter on federal lands. Subscribe to From the Garden blog to stay up to date! ###### Categories - [Industry News](https://www.gardenlawfirm.com/from-the-garden/tag/industry-news) - [Case Commentaries](https://www.gardenlawfirm.com/from-the-garden/tag/case-commentaries) - [Alerts](https://www.gardenlawfirm.com/from-the-garden/tag/alerts) - [Forest Service](https://www.gardenlawfirm.com/from-the-garden/tag/forest-service) - [Forest Service campground concessions](https://www.gardenlawfirm.com/from-the-garden/tag/forest-service-campground-concessions) ###### Recent Posts - [New Federal Contractor Minimum Wage Requires Government To Compensate Procurement Contractor](https://www.gardenlawfirm.com/from-the-garden/new-federal-contractor-minimum-wage-requires-government-to-compensate-procurement-contractor) - [US Forest Service Is Incorporating AI Into Its Environmental Reviews Of Infrastructure Projects](https://www.gardenlawfirm.com/from-the-garden/us-forest-service-is-incorporating-ai-into-its-environmental-reviews-of-infrastructure-projects) - [Forest Service Approves Private Construction Of A New Recreation Facility Under A Term Permit](https://www.gardenlawfirm.com/from-the-garden/forest-service-approves-private-construction-of-a-new-recreation-facility-under-a-term-permit) - [Court Finds Forest Service Regulation Prohibiting Unauthorized Commercial Activity Invalid In The Case Of A Social Media Influencer](https://www.gardenlawfirm.com/from-the-garden/court-finds-forest-service-regulation-prohibiting-unauthorized-commercial-activity-invalid-in-the-case-of-a-social-media-influencer) - [National Park Service Requests Cuts To Its Own Budget](https://www.gardenlawfirm.com/from-the-garden/national-park-service-requests-cuts-to-its-own-budget) [![Garden Law Firm logo transp](https://www.gardenlawfirm.com/hubfs/Garden%20Law%20Firm%20logo%20transp.png)](https://www.gardenlawfirm.com) 66 Canal Center Plaza, Suite 505 Alexandria, VA 22314 Tel: (703) 535-5565 - - - - Explore Garden Law - [About](https://www.gardenlawfirm.com/about) - [Legal Notices](https://www.gardenlawfirm.com/garden-law-website-legal-notices) - [Contact Us](https://www.gardenlawfirm.com/contact-garden-law) - Resources - [From the Garden Blog](https://www.gardenlawfirm.com/from-the-garden) - [The Concessioner's Toolbox](https://www.gardenlawfirm.com/the-concessioners-toolbox-diy-legal-resources-for-concessioners) - [Sign up for News from Garden Law](https://www.gardenlawfirm.com/sign-up-for-the-latest-news-from-garden-law) ©2026 The Garden Law Firm, P.C. 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