Disturbing photos show national parks and monuments overflowing with garbage as the US government shutdown continues

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Disturbing photos show national parks and monuments overflowing with garbage as the US government shutdown continues

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DC trash lede
  • America's national parks are overflowing with garbage and human waste as the US government shutdown prevents federal employees from cleaning toilets and picking up trash.
  • While it's common for national parks to close during a shutdown, the Trump administration has opted to leave them open to visitors. 
  • Many parks have been forced to close their campgrounds due to health and safety concerns. 

As the US endures the second week of a partial government shutdown, national parks have taken a major hit

With few rangers or staffers to clean toilets or pick up trash, parks in the American West have started to overflow with garbage and feces. 

On Wednesday, Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California temporarily shuttered its campgrounds due to health and safety concerns, according to CNN. The National Park Service attributed the closures to "human waste in public areas." 

Read more: Vintage photos of national parks show that some things really never change

Overflowing toilets have also caused a problem for Yosemite National Park, which was forced to close its campgrounds and snow play areas on Sunday. 

Excess trash along Generals Highway, which runs through Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park, contributed to the road being shut down. 

Even the National Mall in Washington, DC, is strewn with garbage near the Washington Monument and US Capitol. 

The filth is unprecedented, even for a shutdown, when it's common for the government to suspend all operations at national parks - including visitor access.

The Trump administration has opted to leave gates open to the public in the absence of any federal employees.  

Many parks are now closing anyway due to health hazards and threats to wildlife safety. Take a look at the state of the nation's beloved parks and monuments. 

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Visitors have reportedly witnessed piles of trash spilling out of a public bathroom at Lassen National Forest in Northern California.

Visitors have reportedly witnessed piles of trash spilling out of a public bathroom at Lassen National Forest in Northern California.

Stray belongings have been pitched against the side of a restroom.

Stray belongings have been pitched against the side of a restroom.
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Broken sleds and discarded beer cans line the snow-covered ground.

Broken sleds and discarded beer cans line the snow-covered ground.

Big Bend National Park in Southwest Texas has also seen its share of overflowing garbage.

Big Bend National Park in Southwest Texas has also seen its share of overflowing garbage.
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Trash has been tossed along the road at Yosemite, where restrooms are also inundated with feces.

Trash has been tossed along the road at Yosemite, where restrooms are also inundated with feces.

At the base of the site's scenic mountains, people have discovered plastic bottles and trash bags, which can be harmful to wildlife.

At the base of the site's scenic mountains, people have discovered plastic bottles and trash bags, which can be harmful to wildlife.
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At Joshua Tree National Park, volunteers have helped to maintain public restrooms.

But the problem has gotten out-of-hand in Washington, DC, where the National Mall is teeming with litter.

But the problem has gotten out-of-hand in Washington, DC, where the National Mall is teeming with litter.
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Ahead of the shutdown, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser said the Department of Public Works would take over trash collection for the National Parks Service.

Ahead of the shutdown, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser said the Department of Public Works would take over trash collection for the National Parks Service.

Source: Executive Office of the Mayor

As late as Wednesday, residents found the sidewalks still covered in garbage.

As late as Wednesday, residents found the sidewalks still covered in garbage.
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While some locals are chiding citizens for tossing their trash into an already-full bin, others blame the shutdown.

While some locals are chiding citizens for tossing their trash into an already-full bin, others blame the shutdown.

Source: Twitter users Beano, Sandra, and Evan Koslof