"The Trump administration directed staff to open wildlife refuges to hunters even as many national parks and other government services close."

"The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has instructed staff to allow hunting to go forward in many of the roughly 600 National Wildlife Refuges, three FWS employees said, despite the wider shutdown that has halted many other government services.

“All permitted hunts will continue,” according to an email sent to refuge staff and reviewed by The Washington Post.

President Donald Trump has directed select parts of the government to ignore the shutdown — with paychecks continuing to members of the military and diverting tariff proceeds to an anti-hunger program — while stopping other services, like taxpayer help lines at the IRS or Environmental Protection Agency permit approvals. Many national parks have also partially or fully closed."

Jake Spring and Hannah Natanson report for the Washington Post October 19, 2025. [2]