Outdoor enthusiasts rally at Arizona Capitol to defend public lands from federal cuts

Hunters, anglers, birders and more showed up at the Arizona Capitol on Thursday afternoon to rally in support of public lands in the face of a push by President Donald Trump and Arizona GOP lawmakers to fundamentally change how public lands are managed and used. 

“We are all on the same footing. There is nothing more democratic than our public lands,” the appropriately named Land Tawney, who co-chairs the Montana-based conservation group American Hunters and Anglers Action Network, said to the gathered crowd. 

Tawney, a veteran conservation advocate, joined with local organizations to rally support for the use of public lands as the federal agencies that oversee them have been the target of drastic cuts under Trump and Elon Musk. 

In February, at least 1,000 park service employees were laid off as the Department of Government Efficiency — the name of Musk’s effort to slash federal agencies, though it’s not an official government department — ordered the layoffs of tens of thousands of federal workers. The result was Arizona visitor centers having reduced hours, tours of attractions being cancelled, habitat restoration being ceased and much more.  

“These places mean something to people because this is where they find their solace,” Tawney said, sharing his experience fishing in the Salt River. 

Arizona gets a considerable amount of tourism money from its public lands. A 2022 report found that more than 10 million people visited the state’s national parks and spent over $1 billion, helping support over 16,000 jobs. 

Under the administration of President Joe Biden, land near the Grand Canyon was designated as the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument. 

The area, which is sacred to multiple Native American tribes, has also been the subject of intense debate as groups have sought to use it for uranium mining and other uses. A federal judge recently dismissed a lawsuit brought by Arizona GOP lawmakers aiming to remove the designation, though those lawmakers are now betting on Trump to reverse Biden’s designation. 

“We still try to live the ancient life I was taught when I was young,” Carletta Tilousi, a Havasupai tribal leader who has worked and lived in the Havasupai village at the bottom of the Grand Canyon her whole life, told the crowd. “The threat of water contamination seems inevitable.” 

Tilousi, like many of the other speakers at the rally Thursday, brought up the late Congressman Raúl Grijalva, who had introduced legislation multiple times to try to protect areas like the Supai Village and Oak Flats. 

“We are in a time where our public lands are going to be attacked,” Tilousi said. “It is a very scary time right now, but I have faith.” 

Speakers also stressed that public lands are non-partisan, bringing up the history of Arizona politicians on both sides of the aisle that have supported conservation efforts. 

Jason Costello, the CEO and founder of Canyon Coolers, said he has been labeled both a “Trumper” and a “libtard,” but has been a registered independent and doesn’t see the outdoor spaces as a left or right issue. 

“Some of the greatest champions of public lands come from across the political spectrum,” Costello said, mentioning Arizona politicians like Barry Goldwater, John McCain and Mo Udall as examples. 

“These leaders understood that public lands are not a Republican or Democrat issue, they are an American issue,” he said. 

Costello also brought up local legislation by Sen. Mark Finchem, R-Prescott, that would make any private sale of land to the federal government require the consent of legislature and governor beforehand, remarking that private land owners can sell their property to oil, gas and anyone else at their leisure. 

That legislation appears to have stalled in committee and has not moved to the full Senate for consideration. 

Tawney ended the rally with a call to those in attendance to spend time in their public lands and to get in touch with their elected officials to urge them to protect them.