SF National Parks Are Being Impacted By The Federal Shutdown. Here's What To Know

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — National Park officials announced Wednesday that several recreational areas in San Francisco will be impacted due to the federal government shutdown.

The shutdown comes after President Donald Trump and Congress failed to strike an agreement to keep government programs and services running by Wednesday's deadline.

Republicans crafted a short-term measure to fund the government through Nov. 21, but Democrats insisted the measure address concerns about health care cuts. They wanted to reverse the Medicaid cuts in Trump's mega-bill, which was passed this summer, and extend tax credits that make health insurance premiums more affordable for people who purchase through the marketplaces established by the Affordable Care Act.

But the Senate rejected it after it failed to reach the 60 votes it needed to advance.

"This shutdown is happening because Trump & Congressional Republicans would rather close down the government than keep tens of millions of Americans on health care," Senator Scott Wiener, who represents San Francisco and other Bay Area cities, said in a statement on X Tuesday. "Democrats need to be clear that we won’t ever normalize Trump’s destruction of our health care system."

As a result of the shutdown, several federal agencies will cease activities and will only keep employees on whose job is to protect life and property.

For the National Park Service, any areas that are inaccessible during non-business hours will be locked up for the duration of the shutdown.

For the time being, these recreational areas in San Francisco will be closed, according to national park officials:

• Muir Woods National Monument
• Fort Point National Historic Site
• Fort Mason Park Headquarters
• China Beach
• Ocean Beach parking lot
• Crissy Field East Beach parking lot
• Battery East parking lot
• Langdon Court parking lot

Alcatraz Island is closed on Wednesday, but will reopen on Thursday, officials said.

Campgrounds are expected to remain open so long as anyone who was already in the area remains there, according to park officials. Reservations that were made before the federal shutdown will be honored. However, no new reservations will be taken throughout the duration of the shutdown, officials said.

Some facilities, such as restrooms and the Fort Mason Center for the Arts, will remain open. To see what will remain open throughout the shutdown, click here.

Local Editor Kristina Houck contributed to this report.