Do NOT visit the United States this Summer.

I hesitated to post, because the news is changing daily and plenty of backsliding after public outrage. Moreover, there is the looming possibility of another government shutdown. Either way, there is a great deal of uncertainty regarding Public Lands in the United States. You may want to reconsider your Summer plans.

While there is a degree of hyperbole in some reports and even sensationalism, there is no doubt that the cumulative effects will be significant. There is a mix of actions being taking by the current Administration including (or causing) staff layoffs/firing, mission uncertainty, seasonal hire freezes and unfreezes, lease cancellations, closing of park buildings and visitor centers, changing of park hours, broad or partial cancellation of tours, lack of response for Federal Assistance during weather related infrastructure failings (road / bridge closures), shutting down research, and re-interpreting difficult 'history. Lastly, there is the possibility of protests affecting visitations near entrances and visitor centers. Some of the effects have already been felt by many of America's World Heritage Sites.

Mammoth Cave National Park (Kentucky)
https://www.lpm.org/news/2025-03-07/at-least-20-jobs-cut-at-mammoth-cave-national-park-amid-trump-administration-purge

Carlsbad Caverns National Park (New Mexico)
https://www.abqjournal.com/news/article_9e7ea648-f085-11ef-a1e0-2305b6404db6.html

Great Smokey Mountains National Park (North Carolina, Tennessee)
https://www.wvlt.tv/2025/03/05/federal-layoffs-impact-12-workers-great-smoky-mountains-national-park-association-says/

Independence Hall National Historical Park (Pennsylvania)
https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/philadelphia-trump-federal-worker-cuts-protest/

Olympic National Park (Washington)
https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2025/03/05/hoh-rainforest-closure-olympic-national-park

Yosemite National Park (California)
https://www.afar.com/magazine/yosemite-has-suspended-its-reservation-system

Glacier National Park (Montana)
https://flatheadbeacon.com/2025/03/02/its-not-about-the-paycheck-its-about-the-people-fired-workers-rally-at-glacier-national-park-to-protest-federal-cuts/

Yellowstone National Park (Montana, Wyoming, Idaho)
https://www.ktvq.com/news/local-news/protests-grow-across-montana-as-national-park-service-layoffs-raise-concerns

Everglades National Park (Florida)
https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2025/02/25/florida-national-parks-layoffs-trump-administration

Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona)
https://www.kcentv.com/video/news/national/significant-layoffs-at-grand-canyon-national-park-shocking-the-local-community/500-edd1c6e5-b23f-4f17-a441-055cc61ce3d7

Papahanaumokuakea (Hawaii)
https://www.civilbeat.org/2025/01/noaas-race-to-make-papahanaumokuakea-a-national-sanctuary-survive-trump/

San Antonio Missions (Texas)
https://www.kens5.com/article/news/history/san-antonio-missions-park-headquarters-terminate-lease-texas/273-528484de-26b5-4ed5-b52c-47db2144dcbb

Glacier Bay National Park (Alaska)
https://alaskabeacon.com/2025/03/05/terminated-parks-employee-in-alaska-warns-of-the-danger-and-cruelty-of-job-cuts/

WHS Hampi

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd92y5np4xgo.amp

This article highlights the negative effects on the San Antonio Missions WHS.

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/03/10/trump-administration-closing-national-park-service-offices-unesco-world-heritage-site-texas

(In Dutch) Brugge viert 800-jarig bestaan Begijnhof met tentoonstelling, lezingen en concerten

WHS Flemish béguinages / WHS Bruges

The Bruges béguinage will celebrate its 800th birthday this Summer.

As mentioned in Michael's review back in 2023, the main hall at Jongmyo has been covered during renovations. The work is now complete and ceremonies will take place to mark the completion of the 5-year long restoration of the hall.

Landmark national treasure restoration to be marked with traditional ceremony

Fire in the historic centre of Paramaribo destroys 5 historic houses.

Up until now, I only found articles about it in Dutch:

Gitzwarte dag voor werelderfgoed: tragedie in Paramaribo treft ons allemaal

Werelderfgoed uit 18e eeuw gaat verloren: enorme brand legt 4 historische gebouwen in Paramaribo in de as

Historische panden in Paramaribo verwoest door grote brand

WHS Odzala-Kokua (albeit viewed through the lens of the British Royal Family)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq54dgv2p29o

https://www.gov.ie/en/office-of-public-works/press-releases/opw-plans-for-reopening-the-season-at-sceilg-mhich%C3%ADl/

Maybe the picture is slightly clearer now... I hope for some miracle at this point.

They discuss also the opportunity of lowering the number of visitors from 12 to 10 per boat.