When Federal Cuts Hit Home: Impacts on Public Lands and Health Services in Coconino County

By Jerónimo Vasquez, Supervisor of Coconino County and HECHO’s Hispanic Conservation Leadership Council member.  

Decisions made in Washington, D.C. can feel far removed from local communities. But for those of us living and working in Coconino County, the consequences of federal cuts are very real, and very urgent . Coconino County’s fiscal year 2025 budget is $500 million and about $76 million, or 15.2 percent, is supported by federal funds. We cannot afford to see it disappear. 

In my recent visit to the nation’s capital, I joined my colleagues to raise awareness among our congressional representatives about the growing impact of federal job losses and stalled funding on the daily lives of Arizonans.  

Coconino County is home to thousands of square miles of public lands, including Grand Canyon National Park, which is one of the most visited natural wonders of the world. With nearly 5 million visitors a year, the Grand Canyon is not just an ecological, cultural and recreational treasure, it’s also a major economic engine. According to the National Park Service, visitors in 2022 contributed more than $750 million to local economies, supporting almost 10,000 jobs and generating $1 billion in economic output. Federal staffing cuts have already impacted operations.  

In areas like the Grand Canyon that are defined by rugged terrain, a Search and Rescue Unit is critical to the safety of visitors. The Search and Rescue Unit in the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is federally funded. With more people visiting public lands, the demand for these services has never been greater, yet these programs are at risk of being stretched too thin. 

The impacts don’t stop at the gates of national parks, forests, monuments, and recreation areas. Coconino County’s Emergency Management Department, which plays a vital role in responding to wildfires, floods, and other disasters on both public and private lands, is also funded through federal grants.  

Projects that support flood mitigation, wildfire preparedness, and forest restoration, like the Bill Williams Mountain Steep Slope Fuels Reduction and the Upper Rio De Flag Forest Restoration efforts, not only protect homes and infrastructure but also provide work for local contractors and private forestry partners. We’ve worked hard to rebuild a sustainable forest industry in northern Arizona. If funding uncertainties continue to stall contracts or delay permits, these workers could lose their livelihoods, and we lose the progress we’ve made. We can’t afford to lose contracts by not having the permits ready, agreements signed, or acres ready for restoration. 

Every delay in emergency response or preventative action puts lives at risk. Without stable federal funding, our communities lose precious time preparing for the next wildfire season or flood event—time that could mean the difference between safety and tragedy.

An area heavily impacted by the termination of federal grants is Health & Human Services. Our department just had nine grants terminated without notice. This sudden stop to funding that was already allocated resulted in the loss of 13 staff members and $1.8 million in services for our community.  

These cuts have reduced our ability to deliver essential services that communities rely on to safeguard public health. Key areas such as infectious disease prevention, monitoring, and outbreak response, along with vaccination programs and communications have been impacted, which are all crucial to preparing for and managing future public health emergencies.  

Other impacts to health services include substance abuse programs, mental health programs, and overall public health system improvements.  

These changes have left many Coconino County residents feeling uncertain about the programs they depend on. Seniors are worried about Meals on Wheels, families wonder if there will be mobile vaccination clinics for children entering school and rural communities, and others may no longer have options when they can’t afford to pay their utility bills.  

Coconino County and our residents are strong, resilient, and step up when our families, friends, and neighbors are in need. We look out for each other and have reached a time where we need to act locally.   

On behalf of the residents of Coconino County, I will continue to speak out and advocate for the federal support we need. Our public lands and the health of our communities depend on it.