"Democrats in Congress are demanding answers about a plan by the Trump administration to use visitor fees toward the operation of popular national parks during the partial government shutdown, claiming that the move could be illegal.

As the shutdown enters its third week, the overflowing port-a-potties and trash bins at many National Park Service sites have become icons of the impasse between President Trump and Democrats in Congress over funding for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

With the parties unable to come to a compromise, officials at the Interior Department, which oversees the national parks, are seeking novel ways of coping with the shutdown's impacts. Over the weekend, David Bernhardt, the acting interior secretary, signed a memorandum over the weekend allowing park managers to bring on additional staff to clean bathrooms, patrol parks and otherwise keep many sites up and running with money collected through entrance fees, The Post's Juliet Eilperin reports."

Dino Grandoni reports for the Washington Post January 7, 2019. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"House Panel To 'Demand Answers' On Interior's Move To Use Visitor Fees To Keep Parks Open" (The Hill) [3]

"Acting Interior Secretary Tells National Park Service To Use All Fee Money If Necessary During Shutdown" (National Parks Traveler) [4]

"Interior Chief Directs Staff To Use All Funds Collected From Visitor Fees Amid Shutdown" (The Hill) [5]

"Troubles Grow As NPS Taps Visitor Fees To Clean Up Sites" (Greenwire) [6]