Trump blocks wildfire prevention funds despite calling for forest cleanup
The Trump administration has frozen federal funding for wildfire mitigation projects, stalling efforts to reduce fire risks even as the president continues to push for more aggressive forest management.
Claire Rush, Matthew Brown and Chris Megerian report for The Associated Press.
In short:
- The administration is reviewing funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, which allocated $3 billion for wildfire prevention.
- The freeze has led organizations like the Lomakatsi Restoration Project to halt work, resulting in layoffs and uncertainty for wildfire mitigation efforts.
- The funding review is also delaying grants for local fire preparedness programs and raising concerns about hiring seasonal wildland firefighters.
Key quote:
“It just doesn’t make good business sense to keep operating, not knowing if we’re going to get paid or if at some point the administration is going to rescind some of this.”
— Marko Bey, executive director of Lomakatsi Restoration Project
Why this matters:
Wildfires are growing more intense and destructive, fueled by climate change, drought and decades of fire suppression that have left forests overloaded with dry vegetation. Mitigation efforts, such as controlled burns and clearing flammable debris, can reduce fire severity, but they require steady funding and long-term planning.
With fire seasons becoming longer and more unpredictable, delaying these projects could leave communities more vulnerable to devastating blazes like those recently seen in California. The freeze on funding also disrupts local economies, as forest restoration jobs provide income in rural areas dependent on federal wildfire prevention programs.
Learn more: Forest Service layoffs cut 10% of agency’s workforce
