On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a measure out of its upper chamber that would transform the Chiricahua National Monument into the Grand Canyon State’s newest national park.
Arizona is now only a signature away from laying claim to its fourth one. And the southern Arizona congressman who championed the bill is confident that President Donald Trump will sign it into law.
Chiricahua is the unmistakable name of the raiding Apache band that nomadically roamed the rugged borderlands between the U.S. and Mexico. Among them was the regenade Geronimo. He and his followers hid out from the U.S. Army amid the Apache Wars — before they were displaced by the military with deadly force.
Historically, tribes like San Carlos, Mescalero and Fort Sill Apache have not backed the national park designation in Cochise County. This time around, Republican sponsor Juan Ciscomani sought to ease concerns among Apaches that they could no longer access the 12,025-acre site for ceremonies.
He along with a fellow Arizonan — House bill co-sponsor Democratic Rep. Greg Stanton — promised Apaches that their right to pray and worship freely would not be infringed upon because of visitors or traffic.
“We were able to assure them of that,” Ciscomani told KJZZ, “and make sure that was protected in the Chiricahua National Park Act. That addressed most of their concerns on this — enough to not oppose this anymore, because they’re a key player.”
As for another key player, Ciscomani is convinced that Trump will sign the bill — despite his administration’s funding and staffing cuts to the National Park Service. The White House suggested slashing its operating budget by roughly $736 million for the 2027 fiscal year.
From infrastructure to maintenance and upkeep, Ciscomani acknowledged the costs that come with opening up a national park. They’re expenses he’s pledging to continue prioritizing as an appropriator — if reelected in November to serve a third House term in Congress.
According to the nonprofit National Parks Conservation Association, the federal agency lost nearly a fourth of its entire workforce — more than 4,000 staff — since the start of Trump's second term. Buyouts, layoffs and hiring freezes through DOGE are largely to blame for the recent decline.
“We expect this to get done very soon — sooner than later. We should expect the president to sign this,” said Ciscomani. “No indication at all that there’s any kind of reservation from the White House on this.”
“Quite the opposite, they’re celebrating it.”
Arizona is home to three national parks — Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest and, most recently, Saguaro, which was designated on Oct. 14, 1994. “So October has become a great month to designate national parks in Arizona — 32 years apart — but nevertheless it happened in the fall,” added Ciscomani.
“Beautiful time of the year.”
”I encourage everyone listening to go check out the Chiricahuas, and a lot more people are going to find out about them soon,” he continued. “This year we break the six-year drought of not naming a national park, and I’m big on protecting public lands, so it’s a big deal for me.”
Sixty-three national parks are currently scattered throughout the U.S. — with the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in West Virginia becoming the latest addition to the registry in 2020.
Trump also officially designated that one during his first term.
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