FILE - Gov. Gary Herbert reveals his budget recommendations for fiscal year 2020 at Silicon Slopes headquarters in Lehi on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018.
FILE - Gov. Gary Herbert reveals his budget recommendations for fiscal year 2020 at Silicon Slopes headquarters in Lehi on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. Laura Seitz, Deseret News
Dennis Romboy
By Dennis Romboy
Dennis is a longtime reporter and editor at the Deseret News. He often writes about the intersection of sports and culture.

SALT LAKE CITY — Gov. Gary Herbert called the federal government shutdown a "sorry state of affairs," but said Utah will be just fine despite the impasse in Congress.

"We've insulated ourselves in anticipation and in preparation. Probably no state's better prepared than Utah when it comes to this kind of shutdown in Washington, D.C.," the governor said Friday.

Some federal services will shrink with a partial shutdown, but the state will continue to function, he said.

Utah's five national parks will remain open, though with limited services. Although many of the state's ski resorts operate on federal public land, they, too, will stay open.

"Parks should not take measures to keep visitors out of an area unless access presents a serious and imminent threat to human life, safety, or health, or a serious and imminent threat to the condition of a sensitive natural or cultural resource," according to Interior Department guidelines in the event of a shutdown.

But services, such as restrooms, trash collection, facilities and road maintenance, including snowplowing, campground reservations and backcountry and other permits will cease.

The national parks were closed during the 16-day government shutdown in 2013, but Utah provided $1 million in emergency funding to open up its national parks, monuments and recreation areas. The federal government has yet to reimburse the state.

The state believes it can help keep the national parks open during the holiday season at less than a tenth of that cost, according to a post on its website.

The Bureau of Land Management's Utah office warned on social media Friday that "in the event of a lapse in appropriations, the Bureau of Land Management will be closed. During a shutdown, we will not monitor or update social media or web information. Some areas are accessible, however access may change without notice, and there may be no BLM-provided services."

Utah can weather a short-term partial shutdown and was taking the necessary precautions Friday to ensure services continue, according to Herbert. State agencies that use federal funds have contingency plans in place.

"We have reserves put away," he said.

But a long-term federal government shutdown creates greater challenges and risk for everyone, according to the state.

Herbert expressed disappointment with "dysfunctionality" in Washington.

"We ought to call our congressmen and tell them, 'Hey, fix it. Do better,'" he said.

President Donald Trump told reporters Friday the chances of a partial government shutdown were "very good" after meeting with Senate Republicans at the White House.

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En route to a meeting at the White House, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., left, walks with Sen. Richard C. Shelby, R-Ala., chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, as work continues prior to a Friday night funding deadline to avoid a partial government shutdown, in Washington, Friday, Dec. 21, 2018. Trump is imploring McConnell to change the Senate's rules in order to pass the spending bill with money for a border wall. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) | J. Scott Applewhite, Associated Press
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Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., arrives at the Capitol as work continues to meet a Friday night deadline to avoid a partial government shutdown as President Donald Trump demands money for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, in Washington, Friday, Dec. 21, 2018. Trump is imploring McConnell to change the Senate's rules in order to pass the spending bill. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) | J. Scott Applewhite, Associated Press
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Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., leaves the chamber as the Senate waits to take up a House-passed bill that would pay for President Donald Trump's border wall and avert a partial government shutdown at midnight, at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, Dec. 21, 2018. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) | J. Scott Applewhite, Associated Press
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Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., returns to the Capitol from the White House as work to avoid a partial government shutdown continues with President Donald Trump demanding funds for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, Dec. 21, 2018. Trump is imploring McConnell to change the Senate's rules in order to pass the spending bill. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) | Jose Luis Magana, Associated Press
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Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., leaves the chamber as the Senate waits to take up a House-passed bill that would pay for President Donald Trump's border wall and avert a partial government shutdown at midnight, at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, Dec. 21, 2018. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) | J. Scott Applewhite, Associated Press
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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of California, the speaker-designate for the new Congress, talk to reporters as a revised spending bill is introduced in the House that includes $5 billion demanded by President Donald Trump for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, as Congress tries to avert a partial shutdown, in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) | J. Scott Applewhite, Associated Press
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The Capitol Christmas tree is seen outside of The U.S. Capitol in Washington, Friday, Dec. 21, 2018. Republican-led House approved funding for President Donald Trump's border wall in legislation that pushes the government closer to a partial government shutdown. The bill now goes to the Senate. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) | Jose Luis Magana, Associated Press
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The Capitol is seen at day's end as the Senate works on a House-passed bill that would pay for President Donald Trump's border wall and avert a partial government shutdown, at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, Dec. 21, 2018. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) | J. Scott Applewhite, Associated Press
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President Donald Trump speaks during a signing ceremony for H.R. 2, the "Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018," in the South Court Auditorium of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, on the White House complex, Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) | Jacquelyn Martin, Associated Press
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President Donald Trump arrives to speak during a signing ceremony for H.R. 2, the "Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018," in the South Court Auditorium of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, on the White House complex, Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) | Jacquelyn Martin, Associated Press
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Conservative Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, a leader of the Freedom Caucus, leaves the chamber after the Republican-led House approved funding for President Donald Trump's border wall in legislation that pushes the government closer to a partial government shutdown, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018. The bill now goes to the Senate. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) | J. Scott Applewhite, Associated Press
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Vice President Mike Pence, second from left, departs with White House senior adviser Jared Kushner, and incoming White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney as they depart for the night without a bill that would pay for President Donald Trump's border wall and avert a partial government shutdown, on Capitol Hill, Friday, Dec. 21, 2018 in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) | Alex Brandon, Associated Press
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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of California, the speaker-designate for the new Congress, talk to reporters as a revised spending bill is introduced in the House that includes $5 billion demanded by President Donald Trump for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, as Congress tries to avert a partial shutdown, in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) | J. Scott Applewhite, Associated Press
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The Capitol Christmas tree is seen outside of The U.S. Capitol in Washington, Friday, Dec. 21, 2018. Republican-led House approved funding for President Donald Trump's border wall in legislation that pushes the government closer to a partial government shutdown. The bill now goes to the Senate. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) | Jose Luis Magana, Associated Press
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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of California, the speaker-designate for the new Congress, talk to reporters as a revised spending bill is introduced in the House that includes $5 billion demanded by President Donald Trump for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, as Congress tries to avert a partial shutdown, in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) | J. Scott Applewhite, Associated Press
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House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., leaves the chamber after the Republican-led House approved funding for President Donald Trump's border wall in legislation that pushes the government closer to a partial government shutdown, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018. The bill now goes to the Senate, where it has almost no chance of passing. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) | J. Scott Applewhite, Associated Press
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Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, speaks with reporters on his way to the senate chamber, as the Senate takes up a House-passed bill that would pay for President Donald Trump's border wall and avert a partial government shutdown, at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, Dec. 21, 2018. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) | Jose Luis Magana, Associated Press
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The U.S. Capitol is seen reflected after rain in Washington, Friday, Dec. 21, 2018. The Republican-led House approved funding for President Donald Trump's border wall in legislation that pushes the government closer to a partial government shutdown. The bill now goes to the Senate. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) | Jose Luis Magana, Associated Press
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President Donald Trump speaks during a signing ceremony for criminal justice reform legislation in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, Dec. 21, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) | Evan Vucci, Associated Press
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Vice President Mike Pence, second from right, walks with incoming White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, center, and White House senior adviser Jared Kushner, second from left, after meetings to pass a bill that would pay for President Donald Trump's border wall and avert a partial government shutdown, on Capitol Hill, Friday, Dec. 21, 2018 in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) | Alex Brandon, Associated Press

The House passed a bill that would keep the government funded through Feb. 8 while also allocating $5.7 billion for the border wall President Donald Trump has demanded.

Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, voted for the measure as did GOP Reps. Chris Stewart and John Curtis. Outgoing Rep. Mia Love, R-Utah, did not vote.

"A government shutdown is never a desirable option," Bishop said Thursday after the House vote. "Once we answer the questions of border security, we will be free to address the many countless matters facing our nation's immigration policies. This work can only be done with an open and funded government. This vote was a no-brainer."

Following the meeting with Trump on Friday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., announced on the Senate floor that he supports the House bill and would be proud to vote for it.

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, intends to vote for the spending bill, according to his office. Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, did not immediately respond to a question about how he plans to vote.

"Securing our nation's borders is a fundamental responsibility of the federal government. Five billion dollars for border security efforts that will save lives is a very reasonable request, and I hope Democrats will end this spending impasse soon," Lee tweeted late Friday as time had expired.

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Trump, who previously has said he wants and would take responsibility for a shutdown, said in a tweet Friday that Democrats "now own the shutdown!"

"The Democrats, whose votes we need in the Senate, will probably vote against Border Security and the Wall even though they know it is DESPERATELY NEEDED. If the Dems vote no, there will be a shutdown that will last for a very long time. People don't want Open Borders and Crime!" Trump tweeted.

Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer said on the Senate floor that the Senate had unanimously agreed to a spending bill earlier in the week and that Democrats would not support the House bill.

"President Trump, you will not get your wall," Schumer said. "You're not getting your wall today, next week or on Jan. 3 when Democrats take control of the House."

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