Government Shutdown Could Impact Montana Parks And Workers

Well the entire country woke up today to a whole new kind of chaos. The federal government is officially closed. Yep, Congress couldn’t agree on a budget deal, so the lights are off, the doors are locked, and now the ripple effects are hitting everywhere, including right here in Montana.

First things first, let’s clear up some of the panic: Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, VA benefits, and student loan payments are still rolling. So Grandma’s check? Safe. Your VA healthcare? Safe. However, payments for military and civilian workers will be delayed until they can agree. That forces those people to continue on without pay.

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But where it gets messy is in the places that matter a whole lot to Montana: our public lands. Yellowstone and Glacier? On the chopping block. The Department of the Interior ordered Yellowstone National Park to remain partly open. The National Park Service will be working with skeleton crews.  

You can check out the full Contingency Plan for National Parks HERE.

The shutdown will furlough a little over 9,000 of the total 14,500 National Park Staff across the Nation. Not to mention more than 750,000 federal workers nationwide could be furloughed, and yes, Montana has its fair share.

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A government shutdown doesn’t just play out in Washington, it trickles down into everyday life right here in Montana. From the uncertainty around our national parks to the thousands of federal workers left hanging, it’s a reminder of how connected we all are to these decisions. Hopefully, Congress can sort things out sooner rather than later and get everything back on track.