Executive Summary
Status: Congress has passed a bipartisan package to end the shutdown and fund the government through Jan 30, 2026.
Practical takeaway for recreation & permits: Public access and permitting will resume today, but agencies will face backlogs and a staggered ramp-up of operations. Expect processing delays and a triage of critical work in the near term. See agency specific details below.
What Reopens, and How Fast?
National Park Service
Reopening will prioritize safety, sanitation, and visitor services.
- Individual access: Gates, facilities, and staffed visitor services will be restored as staff return. A phased reopening will occur at higher-use parks first.
- Permits: Processing of Backlogged Commercial Use Authorizations (CUAs), special use/event permits, and backcountry allocations will restart. Parks will likely sequence re-openings based on safety and seasonality, but there may be variations park-by-park.
Bureau of Land Management
- Individual access: Trailheads remain accessible. Expect the restoration of facilities, trash collection, restrooms, and field presence to return to normal over days to weeks.
- Permits: Special recreation permit intake, issuance, and monitoring will resume. Anticipate rescheduling windows and altered review calendars for events delayed by the lapse. Contact your administrator for specific local updates.
U.S. Forest Service
- Individual access: Trailheads and facilities will ramp back to normal; deferred maintenance and sanitation catch-up may take a few days in busy forests.
- Permits: Expect continuity for active permits and resumption of processing for new or renewal requests. In cases where Forest Service supervision is required (e.g., high-use activities), scheduling may be adjusted to align with staff availability; expect delays to the permitting process, and be patient and flexible with your timeline while limited staff will be processing a significant backlog.
Impacts on Key User Groups
Runners
- Short term (first 1–7 days after enactment): Access will largely be available, but expect limited services and staffing, along with backlog clean-up (trash, restrooms, visitor centers). Verify local alerts and notification before committing to remote itineraries.
- Safety: Winter operations and avalanche forecasting programs may take time to fully restore staffing. Plan for self-sufficiency and Leave No Trace adjustments during the catch-up window.
Race Directors with Approved Permits or Awaiting Approval
- Permit processing may restart if agency staff is available, but timelines will be compressed before winter/holiday periods. Agency leads will prioritize requests based on public safety, resource protection, and date sensitivity.
- Activities/events requiring on-site federal monitoring may be rescheduled for dates when staff are available. Anticipate possible adjustments to operating plans to account for reduced staff and large backlogs.
- Activities with higher safety or complexity may be postponed, while low-impact activities are more likely to proceed sooner.
- Be prepared to offer safe contingency plans (alternate dates/routes, capped field sizes) to minimize the monitoring burden, if applicable.
- Fee collection will resume (entrance fees, parking fees, program fees.) Agencies may issue credit or extension options for events materially affected by the shutdown, which will be handled on a case-by-case basis according to each unit’s policies.
- Post event reporting, closeout, and fee collection processes to resume for events that occurred during the shutdown.
- If you have an upcoming event, contact your permit administrator now with a concise status email including all the information the agency needs to know about your event i.e. dates, required monitoring, compliance documents (insurance, risk plans, first-aid certifications, etc). Be sure to cite your permit number, or your application, and attach all relevant event documents to streamline the review and approval process.
- For help developing and submitting your special use permit applications to federal agencies see RPL’s latest Resource: Tips for Applying for a Recreation Event Special Use Permit — Without Over-Burdening Land Agencies
Running Clubs and Other Non-Commercial Recreation Groups
- Check agency websites and social media for phased service restoration and any area-specific closures.
- Plan for limited amenities for a few days (toilets, trash, visitor centers). Pack out more, carry extra water, and confirm winter gate status.
- Volunteer days: Contact land managers to find out when stewardship events can resume. Many units will welcome help in clearing backlogs.
Timing Expectations & Caveats
- Since the bill provides funding only until Jan 30, 2026, expect another round of negotiations by late January. Avoid planning major, staff-intensive events that depend on late-January approvals without a backup plan.