The Great American Outdoors Act Field Hearing

The House Committee on Natural Resources GOP held an oversight field hearing on September 5, 2025, at Grand Teton National Park to discuss the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) and its impact on national parks and public lands. The hearing focused on the reauthorization and potential modernization of GAOA funding, which has provided nearly $1.9 billion annually from 2021 to 2025 for deferred maintenance across multiple federal land agencies, with the National Park Service receiving 70% of these funds. Witnesses, including park superintendents, tourism officials, conservation advocates, and local business leaders, highlighted the significant improvements made possible by GAOA, such as infrastructure upgrades at Grand Teton and other parks, and emphasized the need for continued and expanded funding to address ongoing maintenance backlogs, modernize visitor facilities, and enhance public access. The discussion also addressed challenges such as workforce reductions in the National Park Service, the importance of public-private partnerships to leverage federal funds, and the economic benefits of well-maintained parks to local communities. Committee members expressed bipartisan support for reauthorizing GAOA with reforms to improve funding distribution, streamline project planning and compliance processes, and ensure sustainable staffing levels to maintain and improve the national park system for future generations.