Federal funding cuts have led to significant staffing reductions at national parks, including the Grand Canyon in Arizona
WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) cosponsored two bills to address the consequences of recent federal staff cuts at the National Park Service (NPS) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). The Protect Our Parks Act of 2025 and the Save Our Forests Act of 2025 will fully restore staffing levels at both agencies, ensuring that America’s national parks and forests remain accessible, safe, and well-maintained.
The bills were introduced by fellow Arizona Senator Mark Kelly and cosponsored by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tina Smith (D-MN), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).
The Trump administration’s mass firings have led to significant staffing reductions at national parks, including the Grand Canyon in Arizona, negatively impacting visitor experiences and maintenance efforts. They have also delayed critical infrastructure projects, such as the 12.5-mile waterline replacement project, which supplies water to the South Rim and the Town of Tusayan. And ahead of fire season, Forest Service firings will hamper forest maintenance and wildfire prevention to protect Arizona communities.
“From Horseshoe Bend to the Grand Canyon to Saguaro National Park, Arizona’s public lands are central to our state’s identity and drivers of local economies. Elon Musk and his DOGE minions are willing to put that at risk and jeopardize Arizonans’ safety so they can give tax cuts to their billionaire buddies,” said Senator Gallego. “I’m proud to join Senator Kelly in fighting to ensure that our national parks are fully staffed, and our national forests are safely managed.”
“Trump’s indiscriminate firings are directly affecting Arizona families. When there aren’t enough staff at the gates of the Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest, Saguaro, and other national parks around the state, that means visitors are stuck in long lines and local businesses suffer. And when the Forest Service can’t properly prepare for fire season, Arizona communities are at risk,” said Senator Kelly. “We’re doing right by hardworking federal employees and ensuring our parks and forests have the staff they need to stay open, keep visitors safe, and get critical projects done on time.”
“Anyone who has hiked the Appalachian Trail through the White Mountain National Forest or visited Saint-Gaudens in New Hampshire knows just how spectacular our public lands can be. Without proper staffing and resources, public safety, ecosystems and local economies will all suffer,” said Senator Shaheen. “I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing legislation to restore national park and forest service employees who were unjustly fired by the Trump Administration and ensure the investments Congress has made in our outdoor economy continue to flow as intended.”
“National Parks Service workers like Park Rangers keep us safe in some of our country’s most wild and extreme areas, including places like Voyageurs National Park in northern Minnesota. U.S. Forest Service workers keep our forest areas healthy and productive, including the largest forest east of the Mississippi River, the Superior National Forest. I’ve met these fired workers, I’ve heard their stories and losing them makes our most cherished wild areas less safe and less cared for,” said Senator Smith. “Elon Musk indiscriminately and illegally fired thousands of the workers meant to keep these areas safe, including Minnesotans who worked with loggers to sell timber in a way that protected the health of our forests and Park Rangers up at Voyageurs. Republicans are risking the longevity of our parks and forests all to pay for tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations. These bills are commonsense proposals that clarify that Congress – and only Congress – has the power to decide where we spend tax dollars.”
“As the mayor of a city surrounded by state and national forest land, it is imperative that we preserve the positions of those who work for the Forest Service and the National Park Service because they are our frontline for protecting the community from the fire danger that prolonged drought and the effects of climate change expose us to. Without the vigilance and personal commitment to the preservation of these areas of our rangers, we become an unmonitored tinderbox waiting for a single destructive spark. For the sake of safety, please reinstate the positions of the dedicated park staff who serve our cities, states, and nation,” said Ann Shaw, Mayor of the City of Cottonwood.
“Clarkdale has the pleasure of being located in two National Forests – Prescott and Coconino and the home of Tuzigoot National Monument. For the visitors who come to enjoy our beautiful area of grand vistas, wonderful outdoors adventures of hiking, fishing, and kayaking, and to learn about our Singuan history; having well-staffed facilities and services ensures they have a safe and enjoyable experience. These areas are important economic drivers that help sustain our local economy. For those who live here – this is a critical fire area. It is very important that our national forests and monument have the necessary personnel needed to manage these lands. They are a big part of our overall fire mitigation efforts. A forest fire would be devastating to our community,” said Robyn Prud’homme-Bauer, Mayor of the town of Clarkdale.
“It is of great importance to have appropriately staffed National Parks and forest service to maintain our tourism industry, sustain our local economies and provide critical fire mitigation. In light of the current drought situation in Yavapai county we need more forest service personnel not less. National Parks must remain open and fully staffed. Thank you for your attention on this important matter for Yavapai county and the Verde Valley,” said Christina “Alex” Barber, Mayor of the Town of Jerome.
“More than 5 million tourists visit the Grand Canyon National Park each year. The National Park is an economic engine for Arizona and our rural gateway communities. Terminating essential Grand Canyon employees just prior to the summer tourist season threatens a positive visitor experience and impacts our tourist economy. These terminations, together with the hiring freeze, which prevents the hiring of 70-100 needed seasonal workers, imperils the protection, operation, and management of the Grand Canyon, one of the natural wonders of the world,” said Vice Chair of Coconino County Board of Supervisor Patrice Horstman. “Our National Forests in Arizona provide premier outdoor recreation and hunting opportunities and it is not a surprise that these lands are being utilized beyond the capacity of the employees to provide adequate law enforcement or emergency response. Not to mention the important role of the Forest Service must play in fire suppression and healthy forest management. For the health and safety of our communities, rather than terminating employees, forest Service staffing needs to be increased.”
“Right now, our local communities, fire departments, and land management partners are getting no information from the Forest Service, leaving us in the dark about fire prevention, recreation management, and critical projects that impact public safety and tourism. We appreciate Senator Kelly for introducing legislation to restore staffing at the Forest Service and address the uncertainty facing our wildland-urban interface,” said Yavapai County Supervisor Brooks Compton.
“To effectively address fire prevention, recreation management, and essential projects impacting public safety and tourism, Yavapai County emphasizes the need for timely and consistent information from the Forest Service. We appreciate Senator Kelly’s leadership in introducing legislation to bolster Forest Service staffing and reduce uncertainty in our wildland-urban interface. We look forward to working closely with the Forest Service to ensure our communities are well-informed and prepared,” said Yavapai County Vice Chairman Brooks Compton, and the Yavapai Firewise, Prescott Area Urban Wildland Interface Commission Representative to the Board of Supervisors.
Specifically, the Protect Our Parks Act of 2025 and the Save Our Forests Act of 2025 will:
- Restore staffing levels at the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service to improve visitor experience and ensure the safety and upkeep of public lands.
- Rehire recently terminated employees to address staffing shortages that have led to long entrance wait times and delayed maintenance projects.
- Keep critical projects moving, including those funded under the Great American Outdoors Act, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Inflation Reduction Act, and Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act.
- Provide necessary funding to support staffing and maintenance needs, preventing further disruptions to park operations and conservation efforts.
Read the full Protect Our Parks Act of 2025 and Save Our Forests Act of 2025.