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Amidst the ongoing federal government shutdown, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park continues to welcome visitors, while the National Forest Service maintains its logging and disaster response activities.
The existing contingency strategies stipulate that non-essential operations should stay closed during a shutdown. However, parks and forests in the area have found ways to stay more accessible than in previous shutdowns.
In a joint effort, local governments from Tennessee and North Carolina, along with recreation groups, are funding the salaries of numerous park employees to keep the Great Smoky Mountains National Park operational. This contrasts with the furlough of most non-emergency Forest Service staff, marking a shift in usual procedures.
Federal ‘Timber Emergency’ and Continued Logging Activities
“It seems that there is an effort to keep the lights on, in a way that we haven’t seen in past shutdowns,” remarked Sam Evans, an attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center, expressing his concerns about ongoing timber sales.
The Forest Service Timber Sales page currently lists an active timber sale open for bids in the Tusquitee Ranger District. Advocates like Evans worry that the furloughs could lead to less transparency in logging operations.
Travis Joseph, president of the American Forest Resource Council, explained that a “national timber emergency” declaration permits the continuation of Forest Service timber sales. “Planning of timber sales, execution of timber sales, payment of timber sales, monitoring of the contracts are all moving forward,” he stated, noting that emergency functions like controlled burns are also ongoing.
This financial setup is temporary, as the agency relies on its reserves, which may last only a few weeks. Under the Anti-Deficiency Act, agencies cannot spend unallocated funds. Joseph noted, “If there isn’t a change in Congress, I think that the Forest Service is going to face some really serious decisions about what to do.”
Following the Forest Service’s announcement in September that most trails and roads affected by Hurricane Helene were reopened, the service remains committed to keeping recreation sites open and active in disaster response.
Local Funding Keeps National Parks Operational
Jim Matheny from Friends of the Smokies noted the urgency of the situation, as a coalition of local governments and nonprofits is currently paying the Department of the Interior $60,000 per day to prevent the furlough of 275 park employees.
Contributing entities include the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Friends of the Smokies, the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, Blount County, and the Tennessee cities of Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg. This financial arrangement has been extended to November 2, but ongoing support is uncertain.
Matheny explained, “What has to happen after that is Congress is going to have to say, ‘Hey, we’re going to pay you back.’ That’s not a guarantee, but it is certainly our hope that everyone is going to be reimbursed.”
Other parks are also relying on local support to remain open during peak tourist seasons. For instance, West Virginia allocated $100,000 to the National Park Service to keep the New River Gorge National Park open for a fortnight.
