U.S. Senator Mark Kelly has taken legislative steps to address staffing shortfalls in key environmental agencies.
Introduced as the Protect Our Parks Act of 2025 and the Save Our Forests Act of 2025, these bills seek to revert staffing cuts and elevate service standards in national parks and forests, Just the News reported.
The legislation comes in response to decreased personnel numbers during the previous administration, which impacted the operational capacity of the U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service. These agencies play a critical role in maintaining Arizona's 22 national parks and the broader network of public lands across the nation.
To underline the urgency of the situation, Senator Kelly stated, "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."
This scenario not only affects visitor experience but also hampers local economic activities that depend heavily on tourism.
In addition to the direct impact on tourism, operational challenges at the U.S. Forest Service have led to under preparedness for the annual fire seasons—a significant risk for Arizona's communities. The senator emphasized, “When the Forest Service can’t properly prepare for fire season, the communities of Arizona are at risk.”
Senator Kelly's initiative has garnered support from multiple quarters. Senator Ruben Gallego, together with Senators John Hickenlooper, Jeanne Shaheen, Tina Smith, and Chris Van Hollen, has co-sponsored the legislation, indicating a broad base of political backing.
Furthermore, several Arizona local leaders have voiced support for the bills. Among them are Cottonwood Mayor Ann Shaw, Clarkdale Mayor Robyn Prud'homme-Bauer, and Yavapai County Supervisor Brooks Compton, highlighting the legislation's relevance to local governance and community welfare.
Senator Ruben Gallego criticized opposing views which he attributed to vested interests, stating:
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 Gallego. “I’m proud to join Sen. Kelly in fighting to ensure that our national parks are fully staffed and our national forests are safely managed.
Both Senators Kelly and Gallego emphasize the imperative to bolster federal workforce capabilities to ensure that parks and forests not only meet visitor expectations but also safeguard the natural environment.
The senator highlighted the delays in critical infrastructure projects that further underscore the urgency for action. Notably, one such delayed project is crucial for supplying water to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon and Tusayan, Arizona.
Senator Kelly remarked, “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.”
As the debate on these bills progresses, the implications for environmental conservation efforts and community safety in Arizona remain closely watched by both supporters and critics. The outcome of this legislative effort could redefine the future of U.S. national parks and forests.
