Trump signs law making Chiricahua National Monument Arizona's fourth national park

What the law does

President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed legislation turning Chiricahua National Monument in southeastern Arizona into Chiricahua National Park, the Arizona Daily Star and KOLD reported. The park becomes Arizona's fourth national park and, according to AZFamily, the nation's 64th. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

The bill, the Chiricahua National Park Act (H.R. 6380 in the 119th Congress, per KJZZ), was sponsored in the House by Rep. Juan Ciscomani, a Tucson Republican. The Star reports that Democratic Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego introduced an identical Senate companion in January. ^{[1] [4] [7]}

The change is a redesignation. The Star reports the monument's current boundaries and land uses stay the same, while the law strengthens protections for cultural and religious sites, requires consultation with tribes and keeps access for traditional tribal uses. The National Park Service already manages the site, which its own website describes as a 12,000-plus-acre park. ^{[1] [6]}

How it moved through Congress

The House passed the measure on March 16, according to a release from Ciscomani's office; the Associated Press described the House action as a voice vote. The Senate passed it by unanimous consent on Sept. 30, the AP reported, making the Senate the last chamber to act. KJZZ reported that Ciscomani said changes made to the bill addressed most concerns raised by Apache tribes. ^{[4] [5] [7]}

The Star reports at least five similar bills since 2016 failed to reach a floor vote in either chamber. Kelly said Tuesday, "Today is a historic day for Arizona," per the Star. ^[1]

Tribal access and the site's history

The area lies within the historical territory of the Chiricahua Apache. The AP reported the bill preserves tribal access for traditional ceremonies and allows temporary public closures to protect those uses, with specifics not yet decided. It also reported that the San Carlos Apache took no formal position on the designation. KJZZ reported that the San Carlos, Mescalero and Fort Sill Apache tribes had previously opposed it. ^{[5] [7]}

President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed the monument on April 18, 1924, to protect its rhyolite rock spires, the Park Service says. Franklin Roosevelt expanded it in 1938. About 85% of the area is designated wilderness, the AP reported. ^{[6] [5]}

Staffing and visitors

Visitation figures differ by source. The Star and KOLD put annual visitors at roughly 70,000; the AP said about 60,000. The Congressional Budget Office estimated establishing the park would cost less than $500,000, the AP reported. At a ceremony at the site Tuesday, KOLD reported, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said visitor numbers would rise, adding, "That number is going to go way up." ^{[1] [3] [5]}

Bill Wade, of the Association of National Park Rangers, told the Star the site is likely understaffed. AZFamily noted the redesignation comes amid deep cuts to the Park Service workforce, and the AP reported officials declined to say whether new staff would be hired for expected visitor growth. KOLD reported that renaming signage comes first, followed by water systems and other maintenance work. ^{[1] [2] [3] [5]}