One National Park is staying open during the government shutdown

"One national park is staying open through the government shutdown - Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The park, located in the Appalachian Mountains between North Carolina and Tennessee, will be fully staffed through the period, NPR reported. The outlet reported that seven local governments in the area were paying the park's 275 full time employees to keep the park operating during the shutdown. Local governments have raised nearly $2 million to keep the park running, per NPR."

"Per a nine-page National Park Service Contingency Plan from September 2025, the National Park Service planned to furlough 9,296 of its employees, or about two-thirds of its workforce, if the government shut down. It said in the plan that park roads, lookouts, trails, and open-air memorials would generally remain accessible to visitors. However, it added that if a park facility was regularly locked during non-business hours, it should remain closed for the duration of the shutdown."

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is open and will be fully staffed during the government shutdown. Seven local governments in North Carolina and Tennessee are paying the park's 275 full-time employees to keep operations running, and local governments have raised nearly $2 million. Sevier County is covering much of the cost because tourism from the park boosts the local economy. The US government shut down on October 1 after lawmakers failed to agree on the budget. A National Park Service contingency plan from September 2025 planned to furlough about 9,296 employees, roughly two-thirds of the workforce, during a shutdown. The plan said roads, lookouts, trails, and open-air memorials would generally remain accessible, but regularly locked facilities should remain closed; social media and websites would not be maintained except in emergencies. Park representatives did not respond to requests for comment.

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