It's pretty stupid, no doubt the government is under contract for the TP time and has to pay whether the put up programing or not. most of the programs are recorded and would require only one person a few days a week to set up the schedule for automated operation.
Equally stupid we have a small island here in Lake Michigan that is part of a nearby national park. It is unmanned requiring no intervention from park personal to exist. This time every year is a major deer hunt event there to control the population. The hunters access the island by a private boat co. who has been ordered by the park service to shut down. No savings to the U.S. government here, just deliberate hardship to local business and the public.