Thank you to everyone who has reached out ask how recent announcements from the White House have impacted the Arizona Trail Association (ATA) and Arizona National Scenic Trail (AZT). While there’s still a lot of uncertainty, here’s current information on what’s happening…

Federal Funding

The ATA currently receives 37% of our operating budget from the US Forest Service (USFS). In 2024, that was $555,000! This money is delivered through a Challenge Cost Share Agreement – the ATA spends money on staff, contractors, conservation corps, tools, gates, signs, and a whole lot more, and then we apply for partial reimbursement after documenting our success. This is our single most important source of funding. Any reduction in federal funding from the USFS to its partners would have significant impacts to the ATA, our staff, programs and operations.

Some good news is that none of our current USFS agreements were funded under the BIL/IRA legislation, which is being heavily scrutinized by the Office of Management and Budget under the new Administration. So the funding we worked hard to secure through multi-year agreements appears to be safe for now.

We are also hopeful that the USFS will prioritize funding for their partners (like the ATA) since when we work together, we can get a LOT done. However, last year we saw the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) decide to not fund an agreement since they had to reduce their spending by 5% and decided to prioritize BLM staff and operations over partnerships. So anything is possible.

State Funding

If federal sources dry up, what about state funding? Well, most state grants are from federal sources distributed to states through the Recreational Trails Program. If that disbursement stops, nearly all state grants would also disappear. In addition, the primary leverage we use for convincing the Arizona State Legislature to dedicate money to Arizona Trail maintenance and construction each year is a 1:1 federal match. If federal funding is reduced, so is our ability to match state funds.

Federal Workforce

Although ATA volunteers, stewards, youth, veterans, staff and contractors are able to accomplish sooooo much on the ground, none of it would happen without our federal agency partners. Forest Service staff work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure we are able to get the work done. Although you may not see USFS staff at all of our events, that’s because they trust us to accomplish the work to the highest standards; we have a 31-year history of working together; and the ATA carries robust insurance that protects the organization, land manager, and volunteers. This is beyond the ability of most organizations due to high (and rising!) costs of insurance.

Beyond just approving trail maintenance projects, USFS staff are involved in so many aspects of trail management that could never move forward without them due to policies and laws that help protect public lands. Installing a sign, planning a reroute, organizing an event, building a rainwater collector…they all require engagement from a number of qualified USFS staff. This may include wildlife biologists, archaeologists, NEPA specialists, range management staff, grants and agreements officers, recreation staff, tribal liaisons, District Rangers, Forest Supervisors, and many others. The ATA plays a small role in the projects that happen on public lands. Without our federal agency partners, we aren’t able to accomplish much.

A reduction in the federal workforce will mean others within the agency have to pick up the slack in order to prevent complete collapse. This means everything is going to take longer to get approved and implemented. And some things might just never happen at all since they’re unlikely to be a priority for an agency that is already stretched so thin.

The ATA-USFS Partnership

I like to think of the relationship between the ATA and the USFS as an enduring partnership, similar to a marriage where divorce is just not an option. And yes, our progeny is the Arizona Trail. So when one partner suffers, the other needs to step up to keep the family healthy. Recent attacks on federal employees and threats to funding hurt deeply as these are attacks on our partnership. We are currently working to find solutions to the immediate problems while looking ahead in anticipation of what may be coming next. We remain optimistic and committed to the partnership. After all, we have survived many challenges, leadership transitions, peaks and valleys of funding opportunities, an economic crash, a pandemic, and more.

Trails and public lands have historically brought people together from all walks of life and political parties, and have been something that most everyone can rally around, celebrate, support, and protect. We are confident this will continue into the future. And if it doesn’t, then the ATA will be asking you to contact members of Congress to demand that public lands be protected and prioritized.