‘Parks are bipartisan’: Congress’ stalemate could delay projects, funds at Michigan’s national parks

MUNISING, MI — There’s still visitors roaming along the shores of Lake Superior in Michigan’s national parks but there’s quite a bit of “door rattling” as they pull on locked Visitor Center and Headquarters.

National Parks are on a shoestring staff as the federal government shutdown rounds into a third week.

The skeleton crew is shaken as the rumors of federal firings came true on Friday when seven agencies issued reduction-in-force notices to more than 4,000 workers − some of which have already been reversed.

The National Park Service was not among the federal agencies that had firings, but the general mood among workers is wary and anxious, said Tom Irvine, executive director of National Parks of Lake Superior Foundation.

Furloughed workers seem to be left in the dark without much direct correspondence from the agency. Most are receiving updates about their jobs through the media, Irvine said.

The headlines point to budget and staff cuts that have been hovering over the parks throughout President Donald Trump’s second term.

“It’s been a gut check for months. The shutdown has been icing on the cake unfortunately,” Irvine said. “We are just praying it won’t last much longer.”

The foundation is a philanthropic partner for Isle Royale National Park, Keweenaw National Historic Park and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore meaning it can fundraise and do strategic planning on behalf of the park but is not part of the federal agency.

It also represents Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in Wisconsin and Grand Portage National Monument in Minnesota.

The foundation is seeing donors big and small step up this year to help fill the gap, Irvine said.

“There’s a lot of support for these parks,” he said. “Resoundingly these parks are bipartisan. We’re not seeing [donors] leaning from one party or another. This is the best of us in these park units.”

However, Irvine warns that the foundation is not meant to replace federal funding or staffing.

More National Parks: Sleeping Bear, Pictured Rocks businesses step in as guides while rangers are out on furlough

The Oct. 1 shutdown came just as seasonal labor was in its final push, especially for Up North leaf peeping as fall colors peak in the U.P.

Most of those seasonal workers were furloughed or coming up on the end of their contracts, Irvine said, which means their workload will be stacked on returning staff.

The NPS contingency plan estimated 9,296 workers would be furloughed, representing about 60% of the workforce, depending on seasonal labor.

In February, layoffs and buyouts reduced NPS staff by about 1,700.

The administration reversed course saying it would hire more than 7,000 seasonal workers, but park officials said it was too late. The mass firing was found unlawful by a federal judge in September.

Both scenarios hit the NPS workforce at a key time.

On the financial front, the Big Beautiful Bill rescinded $267 million earmarked for national park improvements and the Trump administration has proposed a further 38% budget cut next year, amounting to a decrease of $1.2 billion.

During the shutdown, parks cannot sell recreation passes or collect entry fees. This is worrying Michigan nonprofits about the long-term impacts on park revenue.

In the first week of the shutdown, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore campgrounds continued to operate and paid staff using fee dollars. This was outlined as an option in NPS shutdown contingency plan for campgrounds that could afford to do so.

However, Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes cautioned that using fee revenue to cover staffing may impact project funds for next year.

In 2024, recreation fees totaled $355,494 across NPS. This made up about 10% of the agency’s discretionary budget.

Not all parks charge entry fees. The ones that do redirect at least 80% back into the park where it was paid. The other 20% of recreation revenue is used to benefit parks that do not collect fees or parks which generate only a small amount of revenue, according to NPS.

In the Upper Peninsula, the precise commodity of time is also wasting away.

“We have lost a few months of really valuable, seasonal time before the snow flies,” Irvine said. “The parks we’re dealing with across the U.P. and along Lake Superior really have to make hay before the snow comes.”

Pictured Rocks has several planned projects in the early stages or in the works that may need to be pushed off until next season. Pausing work on trails, roads, buildings − it all “stacks up,” Irvine said.

On the remote Isle Royale, there’s only a few viable working months on the island. Pushing back a project could lose the secluded park years on a construction timeline, Irvine said.

While park operations are closed, the land is public and therefore accessible. However all parks, especially those in remote areas like the U.P., are warning that emergency services may take longer.

Irvine especially cautions boaters on Lake Superior to use “extra common sense” because “the lake is the boss.”

The foundation encourages all visitors to bring in everything they need, including a communication plan, and pack out their garbage.

The parks are on an honor system, he said, and relying on visitors being respectful and responsible. And if you see a park ranger − be kind, Irvine said.