Federal agencies across Colorado and the nation are grappling with the fallout from a government shutdown that began on October 1, 2025, as lawmakers in Washington failed to reach a budget agreement. The disruption, which could stretch on for weeks, is already having a profound impact on environmental and climate research, public lands, and the livelihoods of thousands of federal employees and contractors.
In Colorado, where the federal government employs thousands at agencies like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the effects are immediate and far-reaching. According to Colorado Public Radio, critical work is being thrown into disarray, with employees furloughed or working without pay, and uncertainty looming over essential services.
"Federal shutdowns are very disruptive … and demoralizing," said Scott Fitzwilliams, former head of the White River National Forest, the most visited national forest in the country. He noted that the financial uncertainty is "a little scary" for many government employees, a sentiment echoed by numerous workers and union leaders across the state.
The shutdown's early consequences are already visible on Colorado’s 24 million acres of federal land. Maroon Bells, a popular destination in the White River National Forest, faces closure as soon as October 3 unless the Forest Service secures an exemption to keep staff on site. Pitkin County’s Public Works Director, Brian Pettet, told CPR that if the Forest Service cannot staff the area, shuttle bus service will be canceled, potentially stranding backcountry hikers. Pitkin County maintains Maroon Creek Road, leading to the site, and plans to close the gate to vehicle traffic if needed.
The National Park Service is expected to maintain only skeleton crews at Rocky Mountain National Park and other sites. A memo from the Interior Department, cited by CPR, warned that while parks will remain "as accessible as possible," many services may be limited or unavailable. The National Parks Conservation Association, a nonpartisan advocacy group, highlighted that the Park Service has lost over 25 percent of its staff since the start of the Trump administration, raising concerns about the ability to maintain and protect public lands during a prolonged shutdown. "People across the country and from around the world have been making travel plans for months, expecting our parks to be open," the NPCA noted. "Instead, they face the real possibility of disruption and disappointment when they arrive."
Environmental enforcement and climate research are also taking a hit. The EPA’s Region 8 office in Denver, which oversees pollution-control permits, site inspections, and grant distribution across the Rockies and plains, is being forced to halt much of its work. "Staff couldn’t even work if they wanted to because access to their computer drives is turned off," said KC Becker, former EPA Region 8 administrator, in an interview with CPR. "There’s just constant decisions being made about permits and facilities and various rules, and all of that work will stop." EPA spokespersons confirmed that the agency is operating under its shutdown plan, furloughing thousands of employees, though some have reportedly been instructed to continue working, according to The New York Times.
At the NOAA climate laboratories in Boulder, most research has ground to a halt. A memo from the Commerce Department, which oversees NOAA and the National Weather Service, indicated that thousands of employees would be furloughed, with only key programs related to climate observations and public safety continuing. A spokesperson for Representative Joe Neguse told CPR that "most research at Boulder’s NOAA facilities has stopped and many staffers are furloughed." Dan Powers, executive director of the nonprofit CO-LABS, called the shutdown a "self-inflicted wound" that affects not only federal scientists but also contractors, private companies, and universities that collaborate with federal agencies.
Waleed Abdalati, director of the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at CU-Boulder, explained that while his researchers will continue to study wildfires, drought, and other climate issues, they cannot access federal supercomputers or lab space. "These disruptions have real implications — not just for the advancement of science, but for American leadership in the global scientific community and our ability to deliver timely insights that protect lives and livelihoods," Abdalati said in a statement to CPR.
Federal workers themselves are feeling the strain. At the Denver Federal Center in Lakewood, anxiety is running high, according to Denver7. Miles Batson, a chemist at the EPA and executive vice president for AFGE Council 238, said, "The vibe it has is high anxiety levels. The vibe is concerning. The vibe is one of uncertainty." Batson noted that EPA employees are still working thanks to "carry-over funds," but it’s unclear how long those will last before furloughs begin. With 54,000 federal employees in Colorado, according to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE), the scale of potential hardship is significant.
CDLE Deputy Executive Director Cher Haavind told Denver7 that the state is offering partial wage replacement through unemployment insurance and paid family leave for those affected. However, federal workers who receive unemployment benefits must repay the state once the shutdown ends and Congress authorizes back pay. So far, less than a dozen federal employees have filed claims, compared to over 2,000 during the 2018-2019 shutdown. "We’re early into the shutdown," Haavind said, cautioning that the full impact on workers may not yet be visible.
The ripple effects extend beyond Colorado. According to DTN, the EPA’s shutdown plan nationwide slashes its workforce from 15,166 employees to just 1,734 retained for "excepted" or "exempted" activities. Most permit approvals, new regulations, and guidance—including vital Clean Water Act permits for farmers—will generally cease unless deemed necessary for essential operations. Rulemaking activities like the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volumes and the waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule are also delayed, frustrating the agriculture sector. Exempted EPA activities, such as pesticide registration under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), may continue if funded by permanent appropriations, but the agency’s overall capacity to review and approve new chemical registrations is severely reduced.
Enforcement and compliance activities, including civil inspections, have largely stopped unless considered essential, and the approval of state-level environmental programs is also on hold. The EPA retains authority to adjust staffing during the shutdown, but no permanent layoffs have been announced as of October 2, 2025. The U.S. Senate is not expected to vote on ending the shutdown until at least October 3, leaving many in limbo.
Despite the turmoil, some essential services persist. The National Weather Service, though “hollowed out by layoffs and resignations since January,” according to CPR, continues to issue products, watches, and warnings as usual. "NWS products, watches and warnings will continue to be issued as normal and will not be affected,” a department spokesperson said.
For now, Coloradans—and Americans nationwide—are left to navigate the uncertainty, hoping for a swift resolution as critical environmental work, public lands access, and the stability of thousands of families hang in the balance.
