PHOENIX (AZFamily) — The gates of the Grand Canyon National Park are open, it’s mostly unstaffed. Volunteers are helping keep the conservancy gift shop open and some bathrooms are open as well.
Unlike the last federal shutdown seven years ago, the state is not picking up the tab this time.
The last time the federal government shutdown, was for 34 days from December 2018-January 2019. Then-Gov. Doug Ducey funded the Grand Canyon during that time with a price tag of $64,000 a week.
Gov. Katie Hobbs said Washington is playing politic and she refuses to play ball.
“We have no idea how long the shutdown is going to be,” Hobbs said. “National parks are staying open and I’m happy about that.”
Arizona’s Family reporter Sarah Robinson asked Gov. Hobbs about her decision not to fund the Grand Canyon.
- Gov. Hobbs: “Let me just say that it is devastating what we are seeing. The chaos from the federal government, from Washington DC politicians, is harming Arizonans. The businesses at the North Rim have already been struggling and we cannot afford to bail Washington out.”
- Robinson: “You mentioned Washington DC playing politics, do you worry that some might think you are playing politics at their expense?”
- Hobbs: “We have no idea how long the shutdown is going to be. The last one under Trump was about over 30 days. They are playing politics and there is no end in sight. And at the end of the day we would be stuck with a bill–we don’t know how big it is and we have to be judicious with the resources we have. That being said, national parks are staying open and I’m happy about that.”
There is no timeline as to how long this shutdown could last. It is also possible the governor could change her mind depending on how the shutdown persists.
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