On behalf of America Outdoors—the national trade association representing a nationwide community of licensed outfitters, guides, and allied businesses, as well as thousands more through our affiliated state and regional associations who serve the recreating public on America’s public lands and waters, I want to be clear: a lapse in federal appropriations should not mean a shutdown of the outdoors.
During previous shutdowns, outfitters and guides found themselves in limbo—permits technically valid, yet operations stalled due to closed offices, staff furloughs, or inconsistent direction from the field. This uncertainty ripples outward: trips are canceled, seasonal employees lose work, rural communities lose visitor traffic, and clients lose the experiences they planned months in advance.
Our members are small businesses, often family-owned, and they are cornerstones of rural economies. They provide unexportable jobs, critical tax revenue, and safe access to America’s backcountry. They also serve as a safety net for the recreating public—helping injured hikers, ensuring safe river trips, and maintaining trail and access infrastructure even when agencies cannot.
We respect the difficult political circumstances that have led to this shutdown. But we urge agency leaders and the Administration to affirm the following principles, immediately:
- Continuity of Operations. Existing permits—whether Forest Service special use authorizations, National Park Service CUAs, or BLM SRPs—remain valid and operative.
- Narrow Exceptions Only. Suspension of permitted operations should occur only when specific, documented safety or resource protection risks require it.
- Separation of Administration from Operations. Delays in processing new or amended permits must not affect the validity of existing permits.
- Clear, Consistent Communication. Field units must provide concise, dated notices to permittees on operational status, restrictions, and emergency contacts.
- Economic Fairness. Where operations are halted by agency direction, mechanisms such as carry-forward use days or equivalent relief should be available to prevent uncompensated losses.
The public lands should remain open for business, and the public deserves consistent access to them through permitted outfitters and guides. America Outdoors stands ready to work with federal agencies, Congress, and the Administration to ensure that even in the midst of political uncertainty, Americans’ access to their lands—and the livelihoods of small business owners who serve them—are protected.
Aaron Lieberman – Executive Director