Federal government action on a number of natural resource related issues has ground to a halt as appropriations have lapsed for federal agencies since late December. The government shutdown, now in its fourth week, is impacting many federal public lands as well as rulemaking, research and many other facets of federal natural resource efforts because of government workers on furlough.

In addition, shortly before the shutdown began, Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke resigned from his office. The former Secretary left the Department on January 2 and Deputy Secretary David Bernhardt is now serving as Acting Secretary. The implications of the changes within the Department are yet to be seen due to the government shutdown.