In a bipartisan effort between Republican Congressman Eli Crane (AZ) and Democrat Congressman Mike Levin (CA), the “Hire Veterans Act” was reintroduced to the U.S. House of Representatives. If enacted, the bill would employ U.S. military veterans in vacant, critical roles within the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, and Bureau of Land Management.
According to Crane, all three of the federal land management agencies have been suffering from serious staffing shortages that have negatively impacted their operational effectiveness. In particular, both Congressmen cited the U.S. Forest Service facing an ongoing struggle to recruit and train staff in multiple critical roles with what they referred to as “a noticeable gap in the experience and skill sets of candidates, affecting their capacity to address increasing wildfire threats.”
“As a 13-year veteran of the U.S. Navy, I’m all too familiar with the obstacles servicemen and women face when transitioning to civilian life. I’m also well-aware of the challenges our federal land management agencies currently face, particularly in filling vacancies for firefighters, park rangers, and foresters,” said Crane in a press release.
As reported by the New York Times, 3,400 employees from the U.S. Forest Service were terminated by the Trump Administration on Thursday, amounting to approximately 10% of the service’s workforce. Many of the newer employees would have been hired under the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion regimen of the Biden Administration.
“With this bill, Congress has the opportunity to both streamline the employment process for veterans AND better ensure that our natural resources are protected for future generations. I’m grateful to be able to introduce this legislation that serves our veterans while furthering the responsible stewardship of U.S. land,” Crane added.
“Our veterans sacrifice so much for our nation. We have an obligation to ensure that veterans returning to civilian life can get jobs and support their families,” said Rep. Levin. “I’m glad to be partnering with Rep. Crane on our bipartisan bill to expand opportunities for veterans and help connect them to jobs in federal land management agencies. I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance this important legislation.”
According to a press release from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which manages the Forest Service, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins issued a memorandum to rescind all Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) programs and celebrations. Instead, the USDA will reprioritize unity, equality, meritocracy, and color-blind policies.
Rollins said in her opening remarks at the USDA, “We will neither commemorate nor celebrate our immutable characteristics, neither among ourselves nor among Americans at large. We will instead celebrate the things that make us American: merit, faith, and liberty first among them. All Americans deserve equal dignity, and at this Department they will receive it. On this precipice of the 250th anniversary of our Revolution, we will rededicate ourselves to ‘the proposition that all men are created equal.’”
A Democrat SuperPAC bankrolled by leftist billionaires Michael Bloomberg, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, hedge fund manager Tom Steyer, and LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman has reportedly targeted Arizona’s 2nd District Congressman Eli Crane for removal in the 2026 Congressional midterm. In a post to X, Crane shared the report from Fox News reporter Liz Elkind listing him with 13 other Congressmen to be opposed with a $50M investment summed up in a simple response: “Bring It.”
In a post to X on Monday, Crane wrote in full, “The great thing about #AZ02 is they see through phony attacks by coastal elites. Bring it.”
The great thing about #AZ02 is they see through phony attacks by coastal elites.
Elkind had reported that “Democrats’ House Majority PAC is rolling out a new initiative to win back working-class voters[.] 2026 Win Them Back Fund is launching with a $50M investment & initial plan targeting 14 Republicans who narrowly won their seats in November.”
According to Fox News, Mike Smith, president of the House Majority PAC told the New York Times that the “Win Them Back Fund” was created with an aim to generate appeal to draw working class voters to the Democratic Party after so many flipped to support President Donald Trump and the Republican Party this year. “We’re laying a marker down now,” he told the Times. “This is a priority.”
In addition to Crane, the House Majority PAC is targeting GOP Reps. Nick Begich (R-AK); David Valadao (R-CA-22); Ken Calvert, (R-CA-41); Gabe Evans, (R-CO-08); Mariannette Miller-Meeks, (R-IA-01); John James, (R-MI-10).
In a press release obtained by Fox News, the PAC said, “One of the major roadblocks we have faced as a party has been declining support among a multi-racial group of working class voters. That’s why HMP is today launching a 2026 Win Them Back Fund focused on ensuring that we win back working class voters across the congressional battlefield.”
“While Democrats at the Presidential level have consistently lost ground with working class voters for over the last decade, House Democrats like Reps. Adam Gray, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Don Davis, and Gabe Vasquez continue to overperform with this crucial bloc of voters. Their victories demonstrate that House Democrats can win back this coalition of voters with the support of strategic investments in recruitment, research, and programming.”
As noted by the outlet, while Democrats continue to deride billionaires such as Elon Musk and President Trump’s participation in the electoral process, high-profile donations to the PAC included $13 million from Bloomberg, $3 million from Pritzker, and $2 million from Steyer.
A bill to construct a new Veterans Center on 232 acres of land in Young, Arizona, the first of its kind to support rural veterans and their families, was introduced by Congressman Eli Crane (R-AZ-02) and has passed the U.S. House of Representatives. The facility would be operated by Gila County and provide family housing, meeting and activity spaces, resource rooms, Veteran Ceremonial Grounds, and outdoor recreation.
“This veterans center is so crucial for rural veterans in northern Arizona who selflessly served our nation. I’m grateful to see my colleagues in the House recognize the significance of this land transfer,” said Crane. “This was the first piece of legislation I introduced and is a testament to the significance of northern Arizona’s veterans. Anytime Congress can vote on legislation that returns power to the states is a good thing. I’m grateful to House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman for his leadership and look forward to the advancement of this bill in the Senate.”
According to Crane’s office, the effort to get the new Veterans Center on its feet found unusual allies joined in a common cause with Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) and former Rep. Tom O’Halleran (D-AZ) getting the bipartisan ball rolling during the 117th Congress with Democrat Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) leading corresponding efforts in the Senate.
“America’s veterans and their families have sacrificed so much to defend our freedom, and Congress must do everything in its power to provide our servicemembers with proper care and opportunities. The commonsense, bipartisan land transfer provided by H.R.837 will do just that by opening up new experiences to veterans in the area for recreation and recovery.” House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman explained, “A veteran himself, Representative Crane has led on these issues this Congress, and I look forward to continuing to work with him to get this bill through the Senate and signed into law.”
Gila County Supervisor Woody Cline, who testified before the House Natural Resources Committee, told Congress of the significant impacts and extensive resources the center would provide for veterans and their families in the region.
During his testimony, Rep. Crane said, “One of the things I love so much about this project, is that you’re not coming here, Mr. Cline, and asking the federal government for any money. You’re actually trying to take something that’s a beautiful piece of land that’s not being used anymore and revitalize it into something amazing for some of our nation’s finest individuals.”
“This site will only be one of two sites in Arizona. There’s one in the southern part of Arizona and one in the northern part […] It’s huge for our local community as well. We have a local veteran community of about 100 people right there in that small town. And then right there between us and Payson, there’s roughly another 5,000-7,000 more right there. Having this accessible, not only to the local members, the state members, the national members, but also, we’re adjacent to the White Mountain Apache Tribe that is not very far away that has a number of veterans in that reservation as well that have been big supporters of this project. It means everything to these folks,” said Cline.
Data from the Veterans Administration shows that by population density, as of 2019, veterans are most represented in Yavapai and Cochise Counties, the northern and southernmost counties respectively with between 11.78-14.45% of the population and between 14.46-16.74% of the population.
Congressman Eli Crane (R-AZ-02) announced the reintroduction of a bill to rollback and nullify Biden administration policies that flew in the face of the sovereignty of native American property owners and tribal governments.
The congressman explained the need for this corrective measure, saying in a press release, “Secretary Haaland and President Biden engaged in selective sovereignty driven by extremists with no concern for Navajo interests or the energy needs of all Americans.”
He continued, “I’m proud to reintroduce this bill that would invalidate the Biden admin’s meddlesome ban. Together, with the Trump Administration, I’m confident we will be able to advance tribal interests, unleashing energy sovereignty and prosperity.”
The bill was drafted in reaction to a 2023 Public Land Order that banned the resource development of 336,404.42 acres of federal mineral estate surrounding the Chaco Canyon National Historical Park until 2043, barring Navajo citizens allotted the land from profiting from any possible mineral leases.
At the time, Navajo Nation Council Speaker Crystalyne Curley said, “The Navajo Nation attempted to compromise by proposing a 5-mile buffer as opposed to the 10-mile,” as reported by Cactus Politics. However, she continued, “The Biden Administration has undermined the position of the Navajo Nation with today’s action and impacted the livelihood of thousands of Navajo allotment owners and their families.”
Rep. @EliCrane_CEO has introduced legislation reversing a Biden Administration ban on mineral leasing land in Chaco Canyon, allowing the Navajo Nation to invest in energy development.
The Energy Opportunities for All Act would nullify and negate Public Land Order No. 7923, thereby declaring the restrictive order to “have no force or effect.”
During the 117th Congress, the House Committee on Natural Resources voted to bring the bill to the floor in a bipartisan decision after Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren offered his testimony in committee. Nygren said, “I appreciate Rep. Eli Crane for introducing this piece of legislation. The Navajo Nation continues to be an energy-producing tribal Nation. I support the Navajo people having a say in how their land and minerals are developed. In this case, the Navajo allottees have an important right to have their voices heard.”
Politico reported Friday that the Navajo Nation is also pursuing a route through the courts to fight the Biden administration’s action through a lawsuit filed in New Mexico Federal Court.
In the complaint filed in the U.S. District Court, the Navajo Nation argued, “From the very beginning of this process, Defendants have single-mindedly pursued an exact ten-mile buffer without sufficient analysis or explanation of why that particular number was chosen or how it relates the actual topography and geology of the landscape or the location of the Chacoan sites.”
The tribal leaders went on to allege that the Department of the Interior, under the previous administration, made the controversial decision without consultation from the tribe’s members to address the economic consequences to communities already beset by financial struggle.
Arizona Congressman Andy Biggs announced on Saturday to the Arizona Republican Party’s 2025 Statutory Meeting that, following his “Statement of Interest” to run against Democrat incumbent Governor Katie Hobbs, he is formally running for Governor of Arizona.
Biggs addressed the body, which re-elected AZGOP Chairwoman Gina Swoboda, and made the announcement. Footage shared to X by Activist Nico Delgado captured the moment when Biggs told meeting attendees, “I am jumping in formally to the race for governor in 2026. Thank you.”
BREAKING: Congressman Andy Biggs officially announces that he is running for Governor of Arizona pic.twitter.com/veM2R9n1Zy
“I am jumping in formally,” he said. “It is now time to Make Arizona Great Again,” according to AZ Capitol Times. The outlet noted that Biggs first asked the party leaders if he should get a haircut before asking if they would support his bid for the 9th Floor.
In a follow up post to X later in the day, Biggs wrote, “It’s time to Make Arizona Great Again! I am excited to be in the race for Governor and look forward to serving all Arizonans! Sign my petition at http://biggsforarizona.com!”
It’s time to Make Arizona Great Again! I am excited to be in the race for Governor and look forward to serving all Arizonans!
In an exclusive AZ Free News poll conducted by Data Orbital, Biggs is dominating early polling with 31.7%, a commanding 19.3 point lead over Karrin Taylor Robson. State Treasurer Kimberly Yee trailed with 7.4%
A new poll shows @repandybiggs with a big lead over other potential GOP opponents in the 2026 race for AZ governor. The results saw Biggs take an early polling lead with 31.7%, Taylor Robson who had 12.4% support, & Yee trailed with 7.4% support.https://t.co/jlR5VXRdlU
A subsequent poll released by NicoPAC covered 512 Registered Voters in Arizona “weighed for race, age and gender following a mix of voter registration data, past election data from the Arizona Secretary of State’s office, and the ACS.” It saw Biggs take 58.5% with Taylor Robson dropping behind Yee at 8.8%, and the Arizona Treasurer climbing to double digits with 10.8%.
Biggs’ announcement was followed by Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk and was later supported by former his former congressional colleague Matt Gaetz.
In an interview with Steve Bannon’s War Room on Rumble prior to the formal announcement, Congressman Eli Crane also offered his tacit endorsement of Biggs telling Bannon, “I think Andy is the most conservative and probably the strongest member of the U.S. House. He was also President of the Senate in Arizona. He knows Arizona. He knows how the system works better than anybody. I don’t think anybody would do a better job. You know, he has my full support, and I know he has the support of the War Room Posse… I hope he pulls the trigger and goes all the way through with it.”
WATCH:
Former Arizona State Representative Austin Smith also shared his support in a lengthy post to X, writing in part that Arizonans “won’t have a revolving door of contract lobbyists on the 9th Floor deciding what legislation is signed and needs to be vetoed.”
Why @andybiggs4az is the right choice for Republicans in Arizona for 2026:
– effective, reliable and bonafide conservative vote in Congress.
– had the courage to vacate the chair during a do-nothing speakership.
