Hundreds Of PA Campsites To Close Indefinitely Amid DOGE Cuts

PENNSYLVANIA — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently announced that several Pennsylvania campgrounds and beaches will close indefinitely in 2025 due to staffing shortages.

According to the agency, the closures were necessary because a lack of staff would "prohibit the safe operations of these facilities ahead of the 2025 recreation season."

"USACE staff will continue to prioritize tasks essential to public health and safety, such as dam operations for flood protection and emergency response readiness," the agency said in a statement.

The announcement comes as the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, continues to target federal agencies, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The agency claims to have saved an estimated $115 billion so far through actions ranging from grant cancellations to workforce reductions.

It is estimated that tens of thousands of federal employees were either fired or opted for what was essentially a buyout offer from the Trump administration, according to an Associated Press report.

The following Pennsylvania campgrounds will be closed for the 2025 season, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In all, more than 300 campsites will be closed, including boat-in-only sites. Exceptions are also noted.

Raystown Lake in Hesston

• Seven Points, Susquehannock, and Nancy’s Boat-to-Shore Campgrounds will remain closed until further notice.
• Scheduled recreation and stewardship events will be reduced and are subject to cancellation.
• The Raystown Lake Visitor Center, as well as day-use facilities such as beaches, overlooks, picnic pavilions, walking trails, boat launches, disc golf courses and the mountain bike skills park, will remain open.
• Leased areas and concessionaries, including Seven Points Marina and Raystown Resort, will operate according to their respective schedules.

Tioga-Hammond and Cowanesque Lakes in Tioga

• Tompkins Campground, including its swim beach and boat ramp, will remain closed until further notice.
• Cowanesque Lake day-use facilities such as picnic pavilions, walking trails, boat launches, disc golf course, and picnic areas will remain open.
• Ives Run Campground and Visitor Information Center, as well as day-use facilities such as picnic pavilions, walking trails, boat launches, disc golf course, swim beach and picnic areas, will remain open.
• Lambs Creek Recreation Area and boat ramp will remain open.
• Scheduled recreation and stewardship events will be reduced and are subject to cancelation.
• Leased areas and concessionaries, including Mill Cove, Tioga Little League Fields, and Mansfield Veterans Park will operate according to their respective schedules.

Visitors who have paid reservations that have been canceled due to campground closures will be refunded via Recreation.gov. All refunds generated within the Recreation.gov system will be communicated through email. Online assistance is available.