WASHINGTON —

A group of former national park superintendents is calling on the Trump administration to close the parks to visitors in case of a government shutdown.

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Past shutdowns in which parks remained open led to vandalism of iconic symbols, destroyed wildlife habitat, and endangered visitors, 40 former superintendents said in a letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.

A shutdown now could be even worse as parks are already under strain from a 24% reduction in staff and severe budget cuts, the former park officials said in a letter Thursday. A secretarial order by Burgum directing parks to remain open has led parks to neglect trash collection and other routine maintenance work, th

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