North Rim and Kaibab National Forest Restoration Act of 2026

Key Points

• This bill allows the National Park Service and Forest Service to use faster hiring and buying processes to speed up repairs in the Grand Canyon and Kaibab National Forest. These 'emergency authorities' are meant to help the area recover from two massive 2025 wildfires that burned over 200,000 acres.
• The work will focus on rebuilding more than 100 destroyed structures, including the Grand Canyon Lodge, and restoring the natural landscape. This includes planting native seeds, stopping soil erosion, and removing dangerous trees to make the parks safe for tourists and wildlife again.
• To support the local economy, the government is required to prioritize hiring local businesses and companies owned by Native American Tribes. The agencies must also consult with the 11 Tribes that have ancestral homelands in the Grand Canyon region throughout the rebuilding process.
• To prevent the waste of taxpayer money, the agencies must send a report to Congress every six months. These reports must list all contractors, explain every dollar spent, and flag any instances of fraud or cost overruns.
• These special powers will last for five years or until the cleanup is finished. If another fire happens in the same area during this time, the agencies can ask Congress for a one-year extension to complete their work.