Oregon's congressional Democrats emerged from a wildfire season briefing last week with "deep concerns" about federal agencies' readiness to respond to what is expected to be a long and severe fire season — raising alarms about budget cuts and staffing losses at the U.S. Forest Service that could leave the Pacific Northwest dangerously exposed.

The Briefing and the Fallout

U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, along with Representatives Suzanne Bonamici and Andrea Salinas, attended an annual wildfire season briefing at the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center (NWCC) in Portland — the nerve center for wildfire prevention and response across nine state and federal agencies in the West.

"The rhetoric today is very different than it's been in the past," Sen. Wyden said. "The White House better wake up and look at the reality and the serious threat that Oregon is looking at."

The lawmakers said budget cuts and the loss of certified personnel at federal agencies — particularly the U.S. Forest Service, which manages the largest share of federal wildland firefighting — have created what they described as needless uncertainty heading into a critical season.

The Numbers Behind the Concern

According to a letter from Sen. Wyden, approximately 1,400 Forest Service employees who hold certifications necessary for firefighting operations have left the agency over the past year. President Trump's proposed fiscal year 2026 budget includes:

  • A proposed 20% reduction in Forest Service staff — roughly 7,000 employees
  • $0 allocated for forest and rangeland research at the Forest Service
  • Approximately 30% cuts to Forest Service programs involved in fire prevention and management

The federal government owns more than half of Oregon's total land area — approximately 32 million acres — meaning gaps in federal firefighting capacity directly affect Oregon communities.

Conflicting Signals

Oregon's new State Forester, Kacey KC, said the day before the congressional briefing that she had received assurances from U.S. Forest Service, Department of the Interior, and the new U.S. Wildland Fire Service that Oregon-based federal firefighting capacity had not been cut.

Spokespersons for the Department of the Interior echoed that message, stating "there will be no gap in response capacity" during the fire season. The U.S. Forest Service did not immediately respond to questions from the Oregon Capital Chronicle.

What's at Stake

The Pacific Northwest's 2026 fire season is shaping up to be among the most dangerous in years, driven by record low snowpack, severe drought, and early onset of El Nino conditions. State fire agencies are prepared for the 16 million acres they manage — but federal inaction or understaffing on the more than 32 million federally managed acres in Oregon alone could overwhelm state resources.

Lawmakers are urging the administration to prioritize wildfire staffing before conditions deteriorate further in June and July.