By Abdullahi Lukman
The Trump administration has suspended funding for federal programs aimed at reducing wildfire risk in the western United States, including freezing seasonal firefighter hiring, as part of broader cuts to government spending, according to affected organizations.
This comes shortly after devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, which are projected to be the most expensive in U.S. history, with potential losses reaching up to $35 billion.
One of the impacted organizations, the Lomakatsi Restoration Project in Oregon, reported that its contracts with federal agencies, such as the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management, have been frozen.
Executive Director Marko Bey stated that over 30 grants and agreements have been affected, including active projects that were already underway.
As a result, the organization had to lay off 15 employees and halt work on several projects, impacting jobs across the region.
Bey expressed frustration, noting that the funding freeze has created uncertainty about when payments will resume, disrupting wildfire mitigation efforts.
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The American Loggers Council also reported disruptions, including the suspension of work on the $20 million Hazardous Fuels Transportation Assistance program, which is critical for removing dead wood from forests to reduce fire risk.
Executive Director Scott Dane emphasized the urgent need for forest management in light of the recent catastrophic wildfires.
Both the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior, which oversees federal land management agencies, confirmed they are reviewing funding decisions.
The Agriculture Department, which oversees the Forest Service, stated that all programs and personnel are under review, and it is working with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management on wildland firefighting positions.
Senate Democrats have urged the administration to unlock funding for fire mitigation programs and to exempt seasonal firefighter hiring from the broader federal hiring freeze.
Grassroots Wildland Firefighters, an advocacy group, has warned that the freeze will exacerbate the ongoing recruitment and retention issues faced by federal firefighting agencies, which typically hire about 15,000 seasonal firefighters each year.
The ongoing freeze on wildfire prevention funding and seasonal firefighter hiring is a contentious issue, particularly in the wake of escalating fire seasons in the western U.S. and increasing concerns about forest management practices.
