As wildfire season approaches, budget woes and federal uncertainty have put states' plans at risk
Source: Associated Press
As wildfire season approaches, budget woes and federal uncertainty have put states’ plans at risk
By MARTHA BELLISLE
Updated 11:47 AM EDT, March 27, 2025
SEATTLE (AP) — Budget woes, combined with cuts to the federal wildfire-fighting workforce and President Donald Trump’s tariff and sovereignty threats against Canada, have made it more difficult for state officials to plan for the upcoming wildfire season.
In Washington, a $12 billion budget shortfall prompted majority Democrats in the Legislature this week to propose slicing spending on wildfire prevention and fighting by one-third to two-thirds.
“These massive cuts to wildfire prevention and response increase the threat to public safety — putting lives and homes at greater risk,” state Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Dave Upthegrove told The Associated Press in an email. “The cuts make Washington more likely to experience the kind of horrific scene we saw recently in Southern California.”
As Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency slashes federal spending, the Trump administration withheld money for wildfire mitigation in several states and then fired thousands of workers involved in firefighting from various agencies. Those included rangers in the Forest Service and weather forecasters with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Some were rehired under a court order, but many were then immediately placed on administrative leave.
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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/wildfire-state-budget-doge-trump-musk-a6b5d83981bb615e950f0f7f1a6145ad