How the Government Shutdown Affects Oregon Forests, Trails

A hiking trail in Mount Hood National Forest is an awful long way from the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D.C. But the federal government shutdown that began today has immediate consequences for all national forests and other national recreation sites in the state and region, including places like Multnomah Falls.

The shutdown began at 12:01 am Oct. 1 because Congress could not reach an agreement on funding.

The U.S. Forest Service manages 24.9 million acres of land in Oregon and Washington—think Mount Hood, the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, the Deschutes National Forest, Malheur National Forest and more.

During the last government shutdown, which lasted 35 days in 2018 and 2019, President Donald Trump kept most national park locations accessible to the public, operating wi