The Trump administration has halted funding for federal wildfire prevention programs and frozen the hiring of seasonal firefighters as part of broader spending cuts, affecting efforts in Oregon, California, and Idaho.
The Lomakatsi Restoration Project, an Oregon-based nonprofit, reported that over 30 grants and agreements with federal agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management, have been frozen. Executive Director Marko Bey said his organization had to lay off 15 workers and pause multiple projects. About 65% of Lomakatsi’s budget comes from laws enacted under President Biden, including the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The American Loggers Council also raised concerns, noting the freeze has halted the $20 million Hazardous Fuels Transportation Assistance program, which funds the removal of dead wood from forests. Executive Director Scott Dane urged the administration to exempt forest management from funding suspensions.
A spokesperson for the Agriculture Department said all programs and personnel were under review, while the Interior Department stated its funding decisions were aligned with the president’s executive orders.
Senate Democrats are pushing to restore fire mitigation funding and exempt seasonal firefighters from the hiring freeze. Federal agencies typically employ about 15,000 seasonal firefighters annually, but the Grassroots Wildland Firefighters advocacy group warned that recruitment efforts have been severely impacted.
Dry conditions and fuel buildup have intensified wildfires in recent years. Trump has repeatedly blamed poor forest management for catastrophic fires, including during a recent visit to a burn site in Los Angeles.
