by As wildfires burn across the U.S., including a major blaze north of Tucson, President Trump’s administration proposes merging federal wildland firefighting efforts into a single agency.
The plan aims to streamline operations but raises concerns over costs, disruption, and fire management effectiveness during a critical fire season.
What Happened
The Trump administration is pushing to consolidate wildland firefighting currently managed by five federal agencies across two Cabinet departments into one Federal Wildland Fire Service under the U.S. Interior Department. This structural overhaul would transfer thousands of firefighters primarily from the U.S. Forest Service to the new agency.
This move comes as the 2025 fire season intensifies, with over 1 million acres burned nationwide, including the recent Cody Fire near Tucson, Arizona. The administration’s budget documents omit specific costs or savings related to this restructuring.
Key Details
- Current firefighting efforts: Spread among the U.S. Forest Service (part of Agriculture), Interior Department agencies like National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife, and others.
- Personnel impact: Over 1,600 firefighters lost from Forest Service, hundreds from Interior, due to early 2025 layoffs and retirements.
- Fire season outlook: Above-average temperatures expected to worsen wildfire risks across many states.
- Policy changes: Recent rollback of environmental safeguards to expedite logging in high-risk national forests.
- Legislative support: Bipartisan interest with Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Tim Sheehy (R-MT) sponsoring similar legislation; Sheehy’s prior business involves federal aerial firefighting contracts.
Reactions and Statements
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum defended the plan before the House Appropriations Committee, stating the new service will reduce duplication and improve resource allocation on the front lines.
“We want more firefighters on the front lines and less people trying to make manual decisions on how to allocate resources and personnel,” Burgum said.
However, former federal officials and firefighter organizations warn the plan risks increased catastrophic fires by disrupting prevention strategies such as controlled burns and forest thinning.
Steve Ellis, chairman of the Forest Service retirees, cautioned:
“You will not suppress your way to success in dealing with catastrophic fires. It’s going to create greater risk and chaos, especially if implemented during fire season.”
A letter from retired chiefs also expressed concern that separating firefighting from land management could “kill the agency” and heighten community and firefighter risks.
Investigation and What’s Next
Despite concerns, Burgum confirmed coordination efforts with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to implement changes this fire season without waiting for legislative approval.
Federal and state officials report challenges planning for wildfire response due to fluctuating federal workforce numbers amid layoffs and court-ordered rehiring.
A 2008 Congressional Research Service report highlighted risks of a standalone wildfire agency focusing primarily on fire suppression rather than damage reduction and prevention.
The Trump administration’s actions, including workforce cuts and environmental regulation rollbacks, continue to shape wildfire management amid growing climate-driven fire threats.
FAQs
Q1: Why merge wildland firefighting into one agency?
To streamline operations, reduce duplication, and improve frontline firefighting resource allocation.
Q2: What are the main concerns about this merger?
Potential disruption during fire season, reduced focus on prevention, increased wildfire risks, and high restructuring costs.
Q3: How many acres have burned so far in 2025?
Over 1 million acres across multiple states, including Arizona, California, and Minnesota.
Q4: What impact have recent federal layoffs had?
More than 1,600 Forest Service firefighters and hundreds from Interior were lost early this year, complicating wildfire response.
Q5: Are there bipartisan supporters of this plan?
Yes, including Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Tim Sheehy (R-MT), though concerns remain about potential conflicts of interest.
Summary / Final Takeaway
The Trump administration’s plan to centralize wildland firefighting aims to improve efficiency but faces criticism over timing, costs, and long-term fire management strategies.
As wildfires escalate nationwide, balancing effective response with prevention remains a crucial challenge for federal agencies in 2025.
