North Rim Restoration Act of 2025

The North Rim Restoration Act would authorize the National Park Service to use emergency contracting procedures to expedite recovery efforts at Grand Canyon National Park following the devastating Dragon Bravo Fire. The fire, which struck in July 2025, burned over 145,000 acres and destroyed more than 100 structures including the historic Grand Canyon Lodge, causing significant damage to forests, wildlife habitat, and park infrastructure. If enacted, the bill would allow the NPS to bypass standard federal procurement processes for forest restoration, infrastructure rebuilding, and recovery work in the affected areas, helping to speed up reconstruction and reduce bureaucratic delays that typically slow federal rebuilding efforts.

The legislation includes important oversight provisions to maintain accountability. The bill would require the NPS to submit detailed reports to Congress every 180 days covering recovery costs, contractors used, potential conflicts of interest, and project progress. The emergency contracting authority would be temporary, lasting five years from enactment or until recovery efforts are complete, whichever comes first. The Secretary of the Interior could request a one-year extension if another wildfire occurs within the Dragon Bravo Fire footprint, subject to Congressional approval.