Federal Government Shutdown:

Impacts at Voyageurs National Park

A lapse in appropriation of federal funds, commonly referred to as a “shutdown of the federal government,” went into effect on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025. During the shutdown, Voyageurs National Park is operating under a contingency plan. Under this contingency plan, only staff whose role directly "protects life and property” are permitted to work without pay. All other staff are temporarily furloughed. Trail maintenance is paused and public services are limited.

As the park’s official nonprofit partner, Voyageurs Conservancy will continue to monitor the situation and keep everyone informed. While we are not directly involved in Voyageurs National Park operations, we remain committed to supporting the park and its visitors. 

Buoys have been removed for the winter season.

What does the shutdown mean for Voyageurs?

  • Voyageurs has no entrance fee or park gates to close during a shutdown. 

  • All outdoor park areas will remain open to visitors to enjoy the fall season and peak foliage. This includes campsites, day-use sites, houseboat sites and trails, but extra precautions should be taken.

  • NPS staff presence is extremely limited and visitor services are reduced.

  • Park facilities: 

    • Visitor centers and park headquarters are closed until further notice. 

    • Some park operations were already winding down for seasonal operations, including park-led boat tours and visitor center hours. 

    • Some park restroom facilities will remain open, but trash and cleaning services may be limited.

  • Conservancy programming: For those planning to attend upcoming Conservancy-led programming, please check our events page for information about amended plans.

Practice safety and stewardship

  • Practice extra caution while visiting. In the event of an emergency, please call 911.

  • We are fortunate to have several community emergency service partners surrounding all park access points to help support visitor safety. 

  • If you’re visiting the park, please take extra care to steward park land and waterways. 

  • With limited NPS staffing, visitor services are reduced. Please help by practicing standard Leave No Trace principles: pack out what you bring in, stay on marked trails, and respect wildlife and historic sites. Small acts of care make a big difference.

Be a Voice for Voyageurs

Our parks don’t care for themselves. Behind every trail, campsite, or wildlife project are essential park staff who work tirelessly to maintain our park. 

  • How can you help? Contact your members of Congress and urge them to protect our parks, and the people who care for them. The future of Voyageurs, and all public lands, is at stake. 

  • Support local businesses. Our amazing gateway communities of resort owners, boat operators, water taxis, fishing guides, restaurants, outfitting services, and other local providers play an essential role in welcoming and supporting park visitors. Their services are even more critical when park operations are compromised.

  • At Voyageurs National Park, enjoying our shared public lands means cruising across pristine lakes, hearing the call of the loon and gazing at some of the clearest night skies in North America. 

  • We strive to keep our treasured park protected and accessible for future generations. 

  • Sign up for our e-newsletter and advocate for Minnesota’s national park. 

  • We appreciate everyone’s patience and support during this time. 

Park Staffing Shortage

The current federal government shutdown, in addition to a 24 percent loss of NPS permanent workforce since January, is threatening Voyageurs. Parks need people.

  • Aside from the shutdown, Voyagers National Park is currently down four law enforcement (LE) positions, resulting in the park scaling back on emergency services this past summer. 

  • Although LE positions are exempt from the hiring freeze, broad NPS hiring efforts are slow and challenging, and there is hesitancy to apply to work for the federal agency. 

  • For various reasons, Voyageurs National Park is currently down 12 full-time positions. 

    • The park currently does not have a permanent superintendent, or a lead wildlife biologist, to name a few. 

    • Retirements are causing vacancies due to the hiring freeze.

    • Voyageurs National Park staff are wearing multiple hats to maintain basic operations as DOI has issued an order stating that national parks must remain "open and accessible."

  • NPS staffing is an ongoing challenge, and we've never experienced anything at this level of uncertainty before; it’s creating a stressful situation and impacting park staff morale. 

  • Many park staff face uncertainty about their next paycheck, while vacant positions and more potential cuts put our park at risk.