The Washington Monument, Washington, D.C.’s most recognizable landmark, attracted over 2 million visitors in 1966, 1 million in 1994, and less than 250,000 by 2024. The National Park Service’s timed ticket system makes visiting the Monument much harder for travelers, and the iconic structure is closed so often that it has become a symbol of government arrogance, a laughingstock among tour guides. “Why have they closed the Washington Monument? Because they can.”
Closing the landmark to visitors has long been a favorite strategy for park officials to pressure Congress into providing more money. It is so common that it has a name in the dictionary: The “Washington Monument Syndrome.” Wikipedia defines it as “the phenomenon of government agencies in the United States cutting the most visible or appreciated service provided by the government when faced with budget cuts.”
It has been going on since 1969 when Park Service Director George Hartzog closed both the Washington Monument and the Grand Canyon for two days a week because of “budget cuts.” The public was outraged and Hartzog was fired, but his strategy worked. Congress restored funding, and closing the Washington Monument has been a tried-and-proven tactic ever since. It was closed during every temporary government shutdown, at least 12 times since 1990, and more than 25 times for repairs that take weeks, months, and sometimes years, such as a two-year closure to update the elevator in 2017-2018 – all tactics to get more money from Congress.
Every new Administration starts with a golden opportunity to change that tone, by simply making a guaranteed-popular announcement that the public is now welcome, even encouraged, to visit their national parks, monuments, and historic sites. They usually don’t, but it is precisely what new Interior Secretary Doug Burgum did.
His order requires that all national parks remain open despite staffing changes and some reductions, absent special approval from the Park Service Director. “This order is intended to ensure that all national parks and national historic sites, which are managed by the Department of the Interior, remain open and accessible for the benefit and enjoyment of the American people and to ensure that the National Park Service will provide the best customer service experience for all visitors,” Burgum wrote. In other words, popular parks and monuments may not be closed as a tool for fighting the staffing and budget changes.
One might think everyone would be relieved, if not downright enthusiastic, that the public’s ability to visit their national parks will be protected as the agency’s core mission. But not everyone is. One environmental industry official immediately branded the order as “reckless and out of touch.” She said closure decisions should be based on weather, maintenance, and especially “staffing levels,” and suggested local park rangers ought to be allowed to close a park anytime they wish. She called any requirement for approval from the boss “micromanagement.” I call it management.
Much ado about the “staffing levels” at the National Park Service, which have fluctuated between 15,000 and 22,000 for over 60 years. The agency had about 20,000 employees last year, which has been reduced about 1,000 by President Trump’s layoff of seasonal and short-term probationary employees. All of them were new, but the career employees are hopping mad about it, because more staff and turf is always a source of status in their world.
At least one report quoted employees saying the reductions will mean “fewer workers will be available to collect entrance fees, clean toilets, or help with search and rescue operations.” There’s a spoiler if you plan to visit national parks this year – because they weren’t allowed to close the park, the toilets might be dirty. The Assn. of National Park Rangers warned that its ability “to protect the lands and ensure they remain accessible to everyone” may be compromised. Burgum has now ensured that the parks will in fact “remain accessible to everyone.” They can make their case to the White House and Congress for more funding, but they may not bolster that case by closing the Washington Monument or the Grand Canyon.
In 2013 they tried to enlist public support by closing the outdoor open-air World War II Memorial. It could only be closed by bringing in heavy barriers and fences, which cost thousands of dollars and angered veterans. The move backfired, and today park officials are learning that they must find a new strategy. The public isn’t buying that one anymore, so at least for the time being, Washington Monument Syndrome has been cured.
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