During a government shutdown, Mount Rushmore remains open and accessible to the public, but all services provided by the National Park Service (NPS) are suspended. The extent of the impact can vary based on the specifics of the shutdown, but past incidents provide a clear precedent for what to expect.

Concessionaire operations: Third-party vendors who operate facilities like restaurants and gift shops (e.g., Xanterra) may remain open and provide limited services, including restrooms. These are privately-run services and are not affected by the government shutdown.

State funding: During previous shutdowns, the state of South Dakota and private donors stepped in to provide funding to keep the memorial open and restore some services. In a 2023 budget standoff, South Dakota officials secured a deal with the NPS to keep some areas open.