Amidst growing concerns over environmental policies, community leaders and activists in Flagstaff have raised alarms about the implications of recent federal decisions. At a press conference discussing the Trump administration’s first 100 days, they highlighted significant threats to Arizona’s ecological stability.
Flagstaff Mayor Becky Daggett expressed concerns over the noticeable reductions in federal staff and budget cuts. According to her, the Coconino National Forest has seen a personnel drop of 15 to 20 percent due to resignations. “Every cut to the Forest Service has a huge impact on Flagstaff…Everyone contributes to spotting the fires out there, helping to educate the public about wildfire. Every job is important,” Daggett emphasized.
Further compounding the issue, former state legislator Jamescita Peshlakai criticized the dismissal of National Park Service employees and the potential opening of public lands for mining and logging. She stated, “A lot of them are sacred and holy places to Indigenous peoples, so if they’re not protected….then we as a people Indigenous to this land will lose a lot more than clean air, clean water, clean land.”
This event was spearheaded by the Sierra Club and Climate Action Campaign. Concerns were heightened last month when the Trump administration rescinded a million-dollar wildfire response grant designated for Flagstaff. The Environmental Protection Agency defended the move, describing it as part of a broader agenda to eliminate what it termed “wasteful DEI programs and ‘environmental justice.’”
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