The National Park Service will take the unprecedented step of tapping entrance fees to pay for expanded operations at its most popular sites, officials said Sunday, as the federal government shutdown threatens to degrade some of the nation’s iconic landmarks. In a statement Sunday, National Park Service Deputy Director P. Daniel Smith acknowledged that the administration’s practice of keeping parks open but understaffed has become unsustainable at some of its most beloved sites. During such shutdowns under the Clinton and Obama administrations, the Park Service chose to block access to its sites rather than leave them open with a skeleton staff on board. Under the law, 80 percent of the money collected must be spent on the park while 20 percent can go to fund activities at other park sites. Only 115 of the agency’s 418 park sites collect entrance fees, though a few dozen more collect fees for campgrounds, parking and other purposes.

Source: Washington Post January 06, 2019 18:01 UTC