Government Shutdown Begins: Impacts on Recreation, Manufacturing, and Trade

• National Park Service (NPS): Most parks will close, with trails, roads, and open-air sites remaining physically accessible but with limited or no services. Facilities such as visitor centers, restrooms, and parking lots will be locked.
• U.S. Forest Service (USFS): Day-to-day recreation management operations requiring staff will be suspended. Some campgrounds and sites may remain open using Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) funds, while outfitter and guide permits may continue if private safety services are provided.
• Bureau of Land Management (BLM): Public lands remain accessible, but visitor centers close. Campgrounds, boat ramps, and recreation sites may remain open, though services like restrooms and water may be unavailable.
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE): Recreation sites such as campgrounds and day-use parks are expected to close entirely, based on precedent. Concessionaire-operated facilities on leased land may remain open.
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS): Wildlife refuges will generally close, but some areas such as walking trails may remain accessible without staff support.

• Consumer Confidence: Past shutdowns have shown that prolonged uncertainty weakens consumer confidence. The Labor Department indicated it will not release scheduled monthly nonfarm payrolls report, which could rattle U.S. markets. For discretionary markets like boats and outdoor recreation equipment, that can translate into delayed purchases and softer demand.
• Permitting and Rulemaking: Federal agencies suspend most non-essential rulemaking and permit approvals. This includes delays in environmental reviews, immigration-related approvals, and other regulatory processes important to manufacturers.
• Small Business Financing: The Small Business Administration (SBA) halts approvals of new SBA-backed federal loans-tools used by many small boat builders and suppliers.
• Trade Operations: Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will continue cargo processing and inspections.Tariff collection will continue as this remains a top priority for the administration. The Department of Commerce has historically furloughed staff and suspended key functions, which could cause delays for marine manufacturers reliant on imported materials.
• Workplace Regulation: OSHA suspends most compliance and enforcement activities, aside from inspections tied to imminent dangers or fatalities. Routine inspections, training, and outreach are paused at the federal level, however state-run OSHA programs continue operating.
• Federal Courts: Courts can continue operating for about two weeks using reserve funds but may face reduced hours and delayed proceedings if the shutdown continues. Because the length of the shutdown is indeterminable, this could impact the IEEPA case.

1. Boater Access to Public Waters: With reduced federal staffing, boat ramps, marinas, and campgrounds may close or operate with limited services.
2. Keeping U.S. Marine Manufacturing Competitive: Delays in permitting, financing, and trade proceedings may create uncertainty for manufacturers, particularly small businesses.
3. Recreation Infrastructure: Federal maintenance, grants, and safety programs could be disrupted, delaying projects critical to boaters.
4. Driving Innovation and Sustainability: Rulemakings and regulatory reviews may stall, affecting timelines for marine technology development and environmental permitting.

NMMA will continue to monitor developments and advocate for policies that protect boater access, support U.S. marine manufacturing, sustain recreation infrastructure, and encourage innovation. We are also keeping policymakers informed about how the shutdown impacts our members, ensuring their voices are part of the debate. NMMA members will be kept informed as the situation evolves. Please contact NMMA staff at [email protected]if your operations are impacted by the shutdown.