National "ShutDown" - If you are IN a NP at Deadline?

In November of 1995, the federal government ran out of money after congress failed to pass a budget. Arnberger had to evacuate and close the Grand Canyon for the first time in the national park's history. But it's what happened next that focused the country's attention on Arizona.

Governor Fife Symington announced he was coming up with a slew of National Guardsman to open the park by force if necessary. Arnberger says he basically threatened to take over federal property.

"One of the last times that happened was the start of the civil war and a state making that kind of ridiculous claim. It caught everybody by surprise."

On the afternoon of November 16, the governor flew into the airport just south of the canyon. A convoy of national guardsman and state troopers joined him on the ground. Arnberger met the governor and invited him into the park.

"And the governor made a very direct comment. I'm not here to see the canyon. I'm here to take it over. I replied that a take-over would be illegal. He said "It may be illegal but who will sue us?"


Mark Shaffer, who covered the event for the Arizona Republic called it "a totally crazy situation."

"Governor Fife came up to the park," he recalls, and "was like beating on the gates there saying "Open these gates!". There were some rather bemused federal officials on the other side there checking it out."

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The shut down only lasted a week, but was quickly followed by another that lasted a month. The second time, Arizona managed to keep some of the park open by loaning the federal government around a half million dollars.

"For us it was a very practical move to save the economy of N. Arizona and it worked. We were the only national park to open."

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Arizona Senator John McCain testified that the government shut downs cost Arizona $400 million dollars in lost tourism revenues.

"The parks will remain open... but employees WON'T get paid"...

So in previous *government shutdowns*, keeping the parks open was an option all along?

Why would previous administrations have closed the parks when they could have been kept open, except to abuse the citizens?

Especially if they are going to end up paying all the employees *back wages* for the days they were off?

Everyone got paid during the last shutdown, even those who didn't work.

Everyone got paid during the last shutdown, even those who didn't work.

Late in the evening of October 16, 2013, Congress passed the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2014, and the President signed it shortly after midnight on October 17, ending the government shutdown and suspending the debt limit until February 7, 2014.[16]