Trump Unites Forces to Combat Wildfires in the U.S.

• Trump signed an executive order to centralize efforts in combating wildfires in the U.S.
• A new Federal Wildfire Fighting Service is planned to be established under the Department of the Interior.
• Experts express concerns about the potential negative consequences of the consolidation during the active fire season.

This was reported by Associated Press, The Guardian.

Consolidation of Wildfire Fighting Forces

On June 12, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to consolidate government efforts to combat wildfires into a single program. This decision was prompted by warnings from former federal officials about potential costs and the increased risk of catastrophic fires during the active fire season.

According to the order, efforts currently spread across five agencies and two departments will be centralized. The proposed budget for the next year includes the establishment of a new Federal Wildfire Fighting Service under the U.S. Department of the Interior.

This will mean the relocation of thousands of employees from the U.S. Forest Service, where most federal firefighters currently work, while the fire season has already begun. The authorities have not disclosed how much these changes may cost or save.

In his order, Trump noted that the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles in January highlight the need for a quicker response to fires. He also pointed out that "wildfires threaten every region, but many local authorities ignore sensible preventive measures."

In the early months of his presidency, Trump temporarily suspended funding for wildfire prevention measures and reduced the number of federal firefighters due to layoffs and retirements.

The order does not mention climate change, which is often linked to the intensification of fires, although Trump has repeatedly downplayed this fact. Last year, over 65,000 wildfires occurred in the U.S., destroying nearly 9 million acres (3.6 million hectares) of land.

Organizations representing firefighters and former Forest Service officials express concerns about the costs of restructuring firefighting efforts and the potential for serious disruptions during the peak of the fire season. A group of former Forest Service leaders stated in a letter to lawmakers that consolidation could "actually increase the likelihood of more catastrophic fires, putting communities, firefighters, and resources at risk."

This year is also expected to see another devastating fire season, driven by higher-than-usual temperatures across most regions of the country. Previously, a proposal to merge the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior to improve firefighting was deemed flawed in a 2008 U.S. Congress report.

However, recently this idea has gained bipartisan support, as California Senator Alex Padilla (Democrat) and Montana Senator Steve Daines (Republican) became sponsors of legislation similar to Trump’s plan. Before his election campaign, Daines founded a firefighting air support company that heavily relies on federal contracts.

This decision follows separate actions last month when the Trump administration revoked environmental regulations for future logging projects on more than half of the national forests in the U.S. The emergency status covers 176,000 square miles (455,000 square kilometers) of land, primarily in the West, but also in the South, around the Great Lakes, and in New England. Most of these forests are considered to be at high risk of fire, and many are in poor condition due to insects and disease.

Теги: США/Політика