The Trump Shutdown will force Joshua Tree National Park to close its campgrounds at noon on Wednesday because the toilets are full and there is no staff or money to empty them.
The National Park broke the news on Monday in a press release stating that they had to take action “for health and safety concerns as vault toilets reach capacity.”
Joshua Tree National Park’s campgrounds will close to overnight use Wednesday due to human waste issues. Park staff also reporting illegal activities causing resource damage. #NationalParks @NPCA @GoParks @JoshuaTreeNPS https://t.co/apKD4C5Tsi
— Nat'lParksTraveler™ (@ParksTraveler) December 31, 2018
Since the Trump Shutdown began on December 22, a group of volunteers have been trying to keep Joshua Tree maintained, but, even with their help, there are many issues popping up around the park.
“In addition human waste in public areas, driving off road and other infractions that damage the resource are becoming a problem,” stated the press release (via KESQ). “Additional closures include Lost Horse Mine Road due to illegal activity and Rattlesnake Canyon in order to reduce the number of search and rescue events for rangers already spread thin due to the government shutdown.”
As the Washington Post reports, Democrats will attempt reopen the government when they take control of the House on Thursday, aimed at ending the partial shutdown by passing a stopgap spending bill to fund the Homeland Security Department through Feb. 8 with a bill taht would extend the existing $1.3 billion spending level on border fencing and other security measures, which is much less than the $5 billion that Trump seems to be closing everything down for.
