Bureau of Land Management (Contingency Plan Sept. 2025):

Original Post:

 

Good Morning. It’s October 1, and the federal government has shut down.

 

But how did this happen? What does it mean for runners? What does it mean for run club leaders and race directors with permitted events on public lands? And what will it take to reopen the government so we can all return to business as usual?

IMPORTANT: We are communicating directly with our Race Director Collective to ensure impacted event organizers are well-informed on how to navigate a government shutdown. If you have an event that may be impacted by the government shutdown, please complete this form so we can include you in future communications and provide additional support.

 

For race director-specific information, please click here to find more details.

 

Please note that this situation is fluid and may change. The following reflects the best information currently available. Stay tuned for updates. 

 

1. How Did This Happen?

 

Each year, October 1 marks the beginning of a new fiscal year. Ideally, by this date, Congress will have passed and the President will have signed 12 appropriations bills that fund federal agencies, programs, and services. These bills are intended to reflect careful negotiations in appropriations committees, balancing the nation’s priorities across issue areas.

In reality, this rarely happens; in fact, the last time Congress passed the annual budget by October 1 was in 1996. More often, Congress must pass a short-term extension, called a continuing resolution, to keep the government funded while negotiations continue.

When lawmakers cannot agree on spending levels or policies, and no short-term extension is passed, the government loses its legal authority to spend money. At that point, a shutdown begins. In recent years, shutdowns have lasted anywhere from a few hours to several weeks, disrupting government services and forcing hundreds of thousands of federal workers to either stay home without pay or continue working without an immediate paycheck. 

Currently, Congress is negotiating a continuing resolution that would provide temporary funding for the government. 

 

2. What Does This Mean for Runners?

 

For runners who frequent national parks, national forests, or BLM lands, the impacts of a shutdown show up in practical ways:

• Reduced Access: Although many trails will remain physically open, without agency staff support, self-sufficiency becomes even more critical.
• Closed Facilities and Operations: Visitor centers, restrooms, and campgrounds may be closed, unmaintained, or unstaffed.
  
• Reduced Services: Trash collection, trail, and road maintenance may be paused unless funded through special fee accounts.
• Impacts to Events: Race courses may be modified, race experiences may be diminished, and select events may be postponed or cancelled. 

 

Status for Different Public Lands Agencies

• BLM: Most lands will remain open, but visitor centers will be closed; services (toilets, trash, staffed aid) may be unavailable. Races may proceed if no on-site BLM monitoring is required.
• NPS: Most national parks are expected to open with significantly reduced staff and capacities. Roads, trails, and campgrounds may remain physically open but with limited services. NPS will not maintain any toilets or trash unless FLREA funds are used (see below for FLREA definition). NPS will not issue any new event permits until the government reopens.
• USFS: National Forests generally stay open, but campgrounds and visitor centers may close or be unstaffed. Trailheads remain accessible but are unmaintained; the USFS will not process any new permits while the shutdown is in effect.

In short, while most trails and open spaces won’t suddenly be fenced off, runners should expect reduced services, fewer amenities, and a greater need to plan ahead.

 

What does “FLREA-funded” mean?

The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) allows federal agencies to collect and use recreation fees (entrance fees, campground fees, climbing passes, etc.). These funds can sometimes keep basic services running during a shutdown as they come from user fees rather than the federal budget.

FLREA-funded basics may include:

• Cleaning and stocking restrooms and vault toilets
• Trash collection and removal
• Limited road plowing/maintenance
• Minimal campground operations (if normally fee-funded)
• Minimal law enforcement and emergency response
• Posting safety/closure signage

FLREA funding does not cover: full visitor services, interpretive programs, new permits, or general maintenance. Once fee accounts are exhausted, services stop, and areas may close or remain unmaintained.

 

3. What Will It Take To Reopen the Government?

 

To end the shutdown, Congress must pass, and the President must sign, a funding bill, either by adopting the House-passed short-term resolution or negotiating a new one. Until then, agencies remain closed, workers go unpaid, and the impacts ripple to runners, race directors, and outdoor enthusiasts.

 

4. The Bottom Line

 

Government shutdowns don’t just happen in Washington, DC. Communities across the nation will be impacted. For runners, this means impacted races and reduced access to the public lands we depend on. Stable, predictable, and robust funding is essential for land management agency operations, ensuring that trails, parks, and outdoor spaces remain open, safe, protected, and accessible. 

 

5. Important Information for Race Directors

 

If you have an ongoing or upcoming event that will or may be impacted by a government shutdown, please notify us by completing this form so we can provide further support. 

For more detailed information, refer to this document, which directly cites and summarizes land agency contingency plans. 

We’ll continue to provide general updates through our digital channels and more frequent direct communications to race directors who opt in via the form above.

 

Special Recreation Permits (SRPs) & Events Information