BASE Jumpers Take Advantage of Shutdown, Flock to Yosemite
26th October 2025
Yosemite National Park is seeing a sharp rise in illegal BASE jumping and other banned activities as the prolonged federal shutdown strains enforcement — a surge conservatives say proves White House warnings about security lapses when government operations stall.
The National Park Service on Friday announced the conviction of three individuals for illegal BASE jumping inside Yosemite National Park, part of a noticeable increase in lawbreaking during the shutdown as federal enforcement bandwidth is stretched thin.
The agency said the cases, some dating back to 2020, were announced now because similar activity appears to be escalating during the shutdown, with jumpers openly leaping from iconic formations in broad daylight.
Freedom! In broad daylight! We can’t have that!