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OPEN, for now. The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore staff are back at work
“I can’t wait to get back to work.” Time and time again during what would become the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, furloughed employees at the Lakeshore have expressed exactly this sentiment, a strong desire to get back to their jobs, doing the work they enjoy in a place that they love. When the federal government re-opened on Thursday, November 13th after a 43-day pause, the staff at the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore was able to finally do exactly that.
This reopening of the government was good news for all who love national parks, yet there remain many unanswered questions and concerns, as well as looming deadlines that could significantly shape the future.
Little Sand Bay outdoor display – Neil Howk photo
Here in the Apostle Islands, the return of the permanent staff was good and important news. While a regular visitor to the Lakeshore this time of year may not notice a dramatic difference in the park itself, it is important to recognize that during the closure, important park functions ground to halt – hiring to fill vacant permanent positions, preparations for the very important seasonal hiring, debriefing the season just passed and planning for the season to come, staff training, public outreach and more. Programs for school groups, planning for next summers construction projects, hiring seasonal workers, all of these functions will now be able to begin again.
Friends of the Apostle Islands wants to say welcome back to our valued NPS employees.
Despite that good news, we must also realize a deeper set of realities remains in play for the National Park Service in general, including the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Overall staffing of our parks nationwide has dropped 24% just since the beginning of 2025 – hundreds of probationary staff have been laid off, many permanent and long-term employees have taken early retirement or buyouts, and a hiring freeze remains in place making it difficult, if not impossible, to fill these many vacancies. The potential for further staffing cuts remain. In many parks, staff members are being required to do the work of several positions at once, taking on extra duties and working longer hours. This “doing more with less” is adding additional strain on an already depleted workforce and all of it in the face of the fact that the legislation that ended the recent shutdown will only fund the government until January 30, 2026 when the whole thing may well begin again.
Rainbow over Outer Island Lighthouse – Jon Okerstrom photo
But, in these dark times, we will take the good news where we can get it. Please continue to support the staff of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, respect our public lands, contact your elected representatives with your feelings about our islands and all national parks, and continue to support Friends of the Apostle Islands. We pledge to bring you news of the park you love in good times and bad. And remember, while it may be dark times for our parks right now, it is in the dark that the stars shine the brightest.
Jeff Rennicke
Executive Director
Friends of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
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