Subcommittee hearing: witnesses warn Explorer Act risks becoming an unfunded mandate without staff and funding to implement accessibility

Chairman Tiffany opened the Subcommittee on Federal Lands’ hearing on Title Two of the Explorer Act by saying the law’s success depends on execution, not just assessments. He told members the focus must move “from assessments to implementation, from pilot programs to scalable models,” and emphasized public‑private partnerships as a lever to deliver accessibility improvements.

Joe Stone, co‑owner of Dovetail Trail Consulting and a C7 quadriplegic, told the subcommittee that barriers on trails frequently force disabled visitors to end visits early. “A couple came to Grand Teton National Park to go for a hike. One was a wheelchair user. They were told the trail would be mostly accessible... they were stuck there and had to be rescued,” Stone said, using his personal experience to argue that policy must be matched with funding and people with disabilities at the table.

Stone and other witnesses warned that many ready‑to‑start projects are stalled because agency staff and sign‑off capacity have been reduced. Mike Passo, executive director of American Trails, told the panel, “The single greatest barrier…is capacity across federal land management agencies,” noting projects with funding encumbered that cannot proceed because agency contacts are gone.

Advocates urged pairing accessibility work with routine deferred‑maintenance projects when possible and using reauthorizations of the Great American Outdoors Act to create dedicated, flexible funding streams for accessibility upgrades. Passo and Julie Howell of Paralyzed Veterans of America both warned that diluting GAO funding could undermine its core mission unless explicitly structured to support accessibility priorities alongside maintenance.

Members repeatedly returned to staffing shortfalls. Ranking Member Dexter and others noted the National Park Service has lost a substantial share of permanent staff and cited significant reductions across agencies, arguing that proposed budget cuts would make it harder to implement the Explorer Act’s mandates. Several witnesses recommended secured, sustained appropriations tied to measurable implementation milestones rather than relying solely on assessments and guidance.

Witnesses also emphasized that many accessibility gains are modest and cost‑effective when prioritized correctly—regrading a short section of trail, improving parking lot access, or adding wayfinding information—and that thoughtful planning can expand access without fundamentally changing park character. Maureen Elias of Wounded Warrior Project urged that accessibility be “built in, not bolted on,” including evaluation systems to measure veteran participation and program effectiveness.

The subcommittee did not take formal votes. Members agreed to submit additional written questions for the record, and Chairman Tiffany left the hearing record open for responses. The panel adjourned after requesting that agencies respond in writing to outstanding implementation and funding questions.