Amid Gov. Shutdown, New PA Legislators Help Clean Valley Forge

VALLEY FORGE, PA — With the government shutdown ongoing, several newly elected Pennsylvania state legislators will help pick up trash piles from Valley Forge.

State representatives Joe Ciresi, Kristine Howard, Melissa Shusterman, and Joe Webster will head to the park later this week to clean up.

They'll be joined by staff members from the offices of U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan and State Sen. Katie Muth.

Trash collection is one of many services impacted by the federal government shutdown.

Valley Forge, which is a unit of the National Parks System, is now fully unstaffed, as federal employees will not be patrolling, providing tours or information, or opening the Visitor Center.

Thanks to a partnership with the Encampment Store, however, the Visitor Center has remained open during the shutdown.

The park itself remains open as well, with the National Park Service's caveat that "park visitors should use extreme caution if choosing to enter," as emergency services are not available.

It remains unclear how long the shutdown will last, as President Trump and Congress continue to war over building a wall on the border with Mexico.

The group of legislators represents communities across Montgomery, Chester, and Berks counties.

Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images