'Not a political game': Even these red state Republicans are begging Senate to avoid shutdown

As the clock ticks closer to 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday morning, Utah state officials are bracing for a looming government shutdown that could have widespread impacts on federal workers and programs across the nation.

State officials have been scrambling to prepare for the shutdown that will take place overnight unless Republicans and Democrats in Congress reach an agreement on a stopgap spending bill before the deadline. While the Utah Office of Tourism says it’s “committed” to keeping Utah’s national parks “protected, open and accessible” during a shutdown — prepared to use state funds if necessary to continue at least some services — it’s urging the federal government to approve federal funds to support park operations.

Meanwhile, the Republican supermajority controlling the Utah Legislature in both the House and Senate issued firmly worded letters to congressional leaders urging the U.S. Senate to “immediately pass a clean short-term funding extension to prevent a government shutdown that would harm hardworking Americans across our states.”

“With the September 30 deadline days away, the Senate must fast-track the clean extension the House passed with bipartisan support,” says the letter signed by Utah House Republicans to both majority and minority U.S. leaders, dated Friday.

“Holding government funding hostage is not a political game — it carries real, immediate consequences in every state,” Utah House Republicans wrote. “A shutdown would withhold pay from troops, first responders, and firefighters, disrupt vital services for seniors and veterans, and cut off food assistance for struggling families. These avoidable disruptions would inflict severe harm on the American people.”

Utah Senate Republicans signed a similarly phrased letter dated Sunday, urging the U.S. Senate to support “a solution on the table that Senate Democrats should support, after all they did vote for this funding extension just six months ago.”

“The clean funding extension provides stability for our military service members, veterans, and their families, as well as the continuity of low-income assistance programs,” Utah Senate Republicans wrote. “Allowing a shutdown would consequently and needlessly disrupt our economies, threaten public safety, and undermine public confidence in our institutions. Our families and communities would feel the pain with immediate effect and confusion.”

They added that a government shutdown is “neither sustainable nor a responsible way to govern and the American people understand that.”

“That is why we are calling on Senate Democrats to fulfill their duties, put their politicking behind, and do what’s best for the country: keep the government open,” the Utah Senate GOP’s letter continues. They added that there is “no path forward” for Democrats’ “nearly $1.5 trillion wish list,” which includes a proposal to extend expiring health insurance subsidies and provisions to roll back Medicaid restrictions in the “big, beautiful” law.

In addition to signing on to the letter, one of Utah’s top Republicans, Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, issued a prepared statement urging Congress to “act without delay” to pass the short-term funding extension.

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“We strongly urge the U.S. Senate to put the country’s interests above politics and keep the government open,” Adams said. “The American people deserve leadership that prioritizes good governance over partisan gamesmanship.”

How will Utah’s ‘Mighty 5’ national parks be impacted?

The Utah Office of Tourism said in a statement issued Monday that “we are committed to keeping Utah’s parks, monuments and outdoor recreation experiences protected, open and accessible.”

“Our priority is to do right by visitors who have planned trips of a lifetime from all over the world to experience our national parks, as well as by Utahns and communities whose livelihoods depend on a healthy visitor economy,” the statement said.

Utah’s national parks — Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Zion — generated about $3.1 billion in visitor spending for the state’s economy in 2024.

“If the federal government does not provide an adequate solution, Utah stands ready to offer strategic state support to keep our parks open and accessible to all,” the statement said.

Anna Loughridge, spokesperson for the Utah Office of Tourism, told Utah News Dispatch on Monday morning that some state funding has been set aside to help keep the parks open and fund a limited scope of services in the event of a government shutdown, but she didn’t have a specific number of how much state funding would be available, saying the situation “continues to evolve day by day.”

“Our primary focus is there are federal funds that should be able to support park operations,” she said. “We are committed to being a part of a solution and shaping a Utah that lasts. So ultimately, what we are doing is advocating for federal dollars to fund park operations. If that is not able to happen, then Utah does stand ready to offer strategic support to ensure that parks stay open and accessible.”

It all depends on whether any federal funds do become available, but Loughridge said a government shutdown has the potential to impact park services like visitor centers, shuttles and custodial services.

“So who’s emptying trashes, cleaning bathrooms?” she said. “So many of those things that impact the visitor experience and, of course, are also sometimes a health and safety consideration.”

Asked if there are risks of any national park workers getting furloughed in Utah, Loughridge said “that is a question for the federal government.” She said there are “still a lot of unknowns.”

As of Monday afternoon, the Interior Department was on a list of federal departments that had not yet posted an updated contingency plan on its website to deal with the shutdown, according to States Newsroom’s Washington D.C. bureau.

What about other Utah programs?

Utah’s national parks may be the first to feel widespread impacts if the federal government goes dark, but other state programs that rely on federal funds could also be negatively impacted depending on how long the shutdown lasts.

The Utah Department of Workforce Services — which has a wide range of social programs under its umbrella, including assistance for food, child care, Medicaid, and unemployment assistance — doesn’t expect immediate fallout, however.

“With the possibility of a federal government shutdown this week, we don’t anticipate immediate impacts to our SNAP, Medicaid and child care assistance customers in the month of October,” a department spokesperson said. “In the event of an extended government shutdown, funding for these programs will likely be impacted.”

What about the Salt Lake City International Airport?

While airports typically continue to function under government shutdowns, officials warn it could bring longer security lines or other delays.

Transportation Security Administration workers will continue to work — but with delayed pay — during a shutdown. According to the Department of Homeland Security’s updated contingency plan, 61,197 of TSA’s total 64,130 workers would be retained during a shutdown.

Salt Lake City International Airport spokesperson Nancy Volmer told Utah News Dispatch on Monday that airport leaders will “partner closely” with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Federal Aviation Administration, and TSA “to ensure passengers reach their destination safely and efficiently.”

Those workers will continue to work at the Salt Lake City airport in the event of a shutdown, Volmer said. During the last shutdown, the airport “supported these workers, however we could, with a food pantry, for example.”

“We will look forward to supporting these workers again but would also ask that passengers be patient and understanding of the challenges these front line workers are facing,” Volmer said.