(CNN) California's Joshua Tree National Park on Wednesday will become the latest casualty of the federal government's partial shutdown, closing campgrounds amid health and safety concerns over near-capacity pit toilets. With a quarter of the federal government employee workforce beginning 2019 out of work or working without a paycheck, agencies from the National Park Service to the Environmental Protection Agency and the Smithsonian museums are feeling the pinch. Unlike some previous government shutdowns, when national parks closed entirely, gates have remained opened under the Trump administration, leaving parks severely understaffed. Joshua Tree National Park remains open but visitor services are not being provided. "The park is being forced to take this action for health and safety concerns as vault toilets reach capacity," the park service said.

Source: CNN January 01, 2019 18:33 UTC