Senator Martin Heinrich offered an amendment during the Interior bill markup to require the Department of the Interior and the Forest Service to hire and maintain a minimum number of full‑time employees equal to staffing levels at the end of fiscal year 2020.

Heinrich said the amendment responds to reports from agency employees about forced departures and staffing shortfalls that have hampered seasonal and year‑round operations, including emergency medical technicians, park rangers and wildfire response personnel. “My amendment would require the park service to hire and maintain a minimum number of full time employees for the successful operation of National Park units,” he said.

Supporters of the amendment, including Vice Chair Patty Murray, argued the Park Service has lost a substantial portion of its permanent staff and that staffing shortfalls affect maintenance and public safety during peak visitation and wildfire seasons. Murray said the amendment “sets a clear standard” by using September 2020 as the baseline.

Opponents, including Interior subcommittee chair Lisa Murkowski, said they share the concern about staffing but objected to using an “artificial” statutory hiring floor keyed to a single date. Murkowski said the committee had already provided funding increases and would maintain oversight of agency staffing through appropriations and oversight tools.

A recorded roll‑call vote rejected the amendment: 14 ayes to 15 nays. The committee then proceeded to report the Interior bill as amended by the manager’s package.