Shutdown Hits as Acadia Enters Peak Leaf Season, Leaving Questions for Visitors and Workers
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Havana.
ACADIA NATIONAL PARK—With the failure of the Congressional spending votes in the United States Senate last night, the federal government is shut down as of 12:01 a.m., which means that there could be implications on Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park.
There is also an expectation that the shutdown will impact multiple federal services and that some federal workers will be furloughed. It is the first shutdown since the December 2018 shutdown that lasted 34 days. Some agencies may be able to use cash reserves to continue work if the shutdown is brief.
The Republicans’ plan failed with a 55-to-45 vote last night. It would have extended federal funding through to November 21.
The Democrats’ plan would have continued federal funding until the end of October. It added more than $1 trillion, which would have been for health care (such as restoring recent Medicaid cuts and continuing health care subsidies). That failed 47-53. Both votes were mostly along party lines.
Both plans required 60 votes to pass.
Senator Angus King (I-ME) voted to keep the government open via the Republicans’ plan as did Senator Susan Collins (R-ME).
“I just came from the Senate floor where I took one of the most difficult votes I’ve taken since I’ve been in the Senate. I voted to keep the government open for a continuing resolution. The irony of this vote is, many feel that this was an opportunity to stand up to Donald Trump, to vote no and to fight back,” Senator King said in a press statement Tuesday night.
“The irony – the paradox is – by shutting the government, we’re actually giving Donald Trump more power. And that was why I voted yes. I did not want to hand Donald Trump and Russell Vought and Stephen Miller additional power to decimate the federal government, to decimate the programs that are so important to so many people.
“Here is what Donald Trump said just this afternoon: ‘We can do things during a shutdown that are irreversible, that are bad for them. He means the Democrats like cutting vast numbers of people out, cutting things that they like, cutting programs that they like. We can do things medically in other ways, including benefits we can cut numbers of people out.’
“Maya Angelou once said, ‘If someone tells you who they are, you should believe them.’ Donald Trump, in this quote, tells us what he plans to do if there’s a shutdown and it will not be good for the American people. This was a difficult vote, but in the end, I could not, in good conscience, vote to shut the government down and hand even greater power to the trio of Donald Trump, Stephen Miller and Russell Vought. This was a vote of conscience on behalf of the State of Maine and the people of the United States.”
There have been 15 government shutdowns since 1980.
IMPACT TO ACADIA NATIONAL PARK
The exact impact to Acadia National Park, a federally-run magnet for Maine’s visitors, is unknown. Park officials are expected to meet this morning to discuss the park’s plans.
Acadia National Park blew past visitation records in July and August, but it is still in peak leaf season.
The National Park Service’s September 2025 Contingency Plan states that it will still have law enforcement and emergency response; border and coastal protection and surveillance; fire suppression, and protection of federal property (including research property) that is part of the National Park System.
“Employees that are neither excepted nor exempted will be furloughed and will typically have no more than four hours to complete their orderly shutdown activities,” the plan states.
Sites, like Acadia National Park, will tell the public about the appropriations lapse on the first day.
“Park roads, lookouts, trails and open-air memorials will generally remain accessible to visitors,” the plan states.
Also according to the plan, national parks will use retained park fees “to provide basic visitor services.”
However, “If a facility or area is locked or secured during non-business hours (buildings, gated parking lots, etc.) it should be locked or secured for the duration of the shutdown.”
Similarly, website and social media will not continue to post or be maintained during the shutdown after the first day.
The plan says that prior to the shutdown plan’s implementation there are likely 14,500-15,500 employees in the park system depending on season.
“The lower numbers are a reflection of February through mid-May seasonal shifts,” it writes.
Those considered necessary to stay working during a shutdown, according to that same plan, are between 2,500-3,100, depending on season.
OTHER IMPACTS
The state has approximately 12,000 federal employees. As in the case with Acadia National Park, some will continue their jobs without pay, some will be furloughed.
Those who receive Social Security checks will still receive them as will Medicare and Medicaid recipients (for three months) and veteran’s administration facilities will continue though some services may be paused or lessened. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is also expected to continue for a few months. Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) will likely not be able to help any new applicants. The impact to Head Start (an early childhood education program) is expected to be similar. EPA monitoring has been impacted in previous shutdowns as has the Small Business Administration.
The Postal Service is self-funded and shouldn’t be impacted.
Active duty troops, federal law enforcement officers, air traffic controllers will likely continue to work but will not be paid until the shutdown ends.
According to an article by the Associated Press (AP), the Department of Education will be impacted.
The AP writes, “Federal financial aid will keep flowing, and student loan payments will still be due. But investigations into civil rights complaints will stop, and the department will not issue new federal grants. About 87% of its workforce will be furloughed, according to a department contingency plan.”
ECONOMIC IMPACT
For the Mount Desert Island region and other areas close to national parks and monuments, there could be an economic impact, especially if the shutdown is extensive during peak visitor season.
Last week, the National Park Service released a report on visitor spending in communities close to parks in 2024.
In 2024, park visitors spent an estimated $542.6 million in Maine while visiting Acadia National Park. These expenditures supported a total of 5,419 jobs, $266.6 million in labor income, $499 million in value added, and $798 million in economic output in local gateway economies in Maine, a graph included in the report states.
Specifically, for Acadia National Park region, “In 2024, 4.0 million park visitors spent an estimated $539 million in local gateway regions while visiting Acadia National Park. These expenditures supported a total of 5,300 jobs, $243 million in labor income, $460 million in value added, and $745 million in economic output in local gateway economies surrounding Acadia National Park.”
Though the quote specifically states “visitors,” in its data (excluding the graph below), it is visits.
Overall, the release states, spending in communities near parks “in 2024 resulted in a $56.3 billion benefit to the nation’s economy. Spending by national park visitors contributes to local, regional and U.S. economies, supporting a vibrant tourism industry in gateway communities.”
In 2024, visitors to parks spent $29 billion in nearby communities. In turn, according to the report, that generated $18.8 billion in labor income and $56.3 in economic output. Lodging business, the report says, “had the highest direct contributions with $11.1 billion in economic output. Restaurants received the next greatest direct contributions with $5.7 billion in economic output.”
“National parks deliver a clear economic return—supporting communities, driving tourism, and strengthening local economies in every state,” said Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife, and Parks Kevin J. Lilly. “As we approach the 250th anniversary of American independence in 2026, I encourage all Americans to reflect on our history and honor those who shaped it. Every visit to a park not only deepens that connection but also helps sustain the communities and economy that benefit from these treasured places.”
“Our parks are making a meaningful difference in local communities,” said Jessica Bowron, Comptroller, Exercising the Delegated Authority of the Director, National Park Service. “These communities are essential partners in creating memorable visitor experiences, advancing conservation goals, and strengthening the economic health of areas surrounding public lands.”
An online interactive tool displays results gathered by economists, including year-by-year trend data and explore current year visitor spending, labor income, value-added, and economic output effects by sector for national, state and local economies.
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Rick Osann Art.
A quick note: Once the park has posted official decisions, we will report on this again.
Update: We tweaked a line from “visitors” to “visits” and also added a line to state the difference at 8:55 a.m., October 1.
LINK TO LEARN MORE
For Acadia National Park alerts, click here.
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