Senator Collins Working to Keep Acadia National Park Open During Government Shutdown

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced today that Acadia National Park will remain mostly accessible to visitors despite the ongoing government shutdown. The Department of the Interior and the National Park Service (NPS) confirmed that essential visitor services at Acadia will continue, avoiding the significant disruptions that occurred during previous federal shutdowns. This update comes as the Park prepares for its busy autumn season following the highest summer attendance in its history.

Senator Collins and her staff have been in close contact with Interior and NPS officials, emphasizing the severe economic harm a closure of Acadia would cause for the surrounding community, small businesses, and workers that depend on the Park.

"I am pleased that Acadia will remain open. Shutting down the Park during peak season would have caused significant economic harm in the region, while depriving individuals and families of the opportunity of visiting this treasured destination," said Senator Collins. "Although Acadia remains open, this unnecessary government shutdown is deeply unfair to the Park's furloughed workers and their families. I will continue to work to ensure the Park remains accessible and safe, and that government funding resumes as quickly as possible."

Acadia National Park attracts nearly 4 million visitors annually and generates hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity in Hancock County. In prior shutdowns, the closure of Acadia resulted in furloughed employees, lost revenue for local businesses, and severely diminished access to one of Maine's most cherished natural resources.

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