As the United States heads into what forecasters say could be one of the most active fire seasons in recent memory, the U.S. Forest Service — the agency at the heart of federal wildfire response — is grappling with significant staffing reductions, frozen grant programs, and a proposed reorganization that critics warn will weaken the nation's ability to fight and prevent wildfires.
DOGE Cuts Hollow Out Support Networks
Budget reductions implemented under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative have led to the departure of hundreds of Forest Service employees through layoffs, delayed resignations, and accelerated retirements. While the agency's frontline firefighters have largely been shielded from direct cuts, the support infrastructure around them has been significantly thinned.
"We lost a lot of folks through DOGE cuts, and more through delayed resignations and early retirements," one Forest Service employee told Outside Online. "There's a huge network of support behind the scenes to help the firefighters doing the actual work, and a lot of those folks have left. With the proposed reorganization, getting rid of offices and research stations, we're losing even more of that support network."
Funding for the Forest Service has continued to drop since President Trump began his second term, according to reporting from AZCentral. The proposed reorganization of the agency — which would eliminate regional offices and consolidate research stations — has drawn sharp criticism from fire scientists, former agency officials, and members of both parties in Congress.
Community Wildfire Defense Grants Stalled
One of the most tangible impacts on Pacific Northwest communities has been the freeze on Community Wildfire Defense Grant disbursements. This program, funded under the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, was designed to help communities in the wildland-urban interface conduct controlled burns, create shaded fuel breaks, and harden homes against fire.
NPR reported that some local fire managers who had expected grant funds to support controlled burn programs have been unable to access the money. "I have to sign that we're accepting the money so that it can go out, and we can't sign it," one Washington State official told NPR. The Forest Service did not respond to NPR's request for an explanation of the funding delays.
The freeze is particularly damaging in the Pacific Northwest, where prescribed fire is widely recognized as one of the most effective tools for reducing catastrophic wildfire risk. Lomakatsi Restoration Project and other Oregon-based organizations have demonstrated that strategically treated forest landscapes can stop even large, wind-driven fires.
Congress Pushes Back on Reorganization
The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and Environment recently rejected the administration's proposed wildfire reorganization plan in its fiscal year 2027 spending bill. The bill would continue funding federal wildfire responsibilities through the existing USFS and Department of the Interior structures, rather than creating a new standalone wildfire agency as the administration has proposed.
"Continuing through established agencies preserves institutional knowledge and coordination mechanisms that have been built up over decades," the Taxpayers for Common Sense analysis of the legislation noted. The subcommittee vote signals bipartisan concern about the timing and wisdom of reorganizing the nation's fire agencies during what is shaping up to be a severe fire season.
What's at Stake for the Northwest
For Oregon, Washington, and Idaho — states that consistently rank among the most affected by large wildfires — the combination of reduced federal capacity and a dangerous fuel state is deeply concerning. State fire agencies have worked to bolster their own capabilities, but the scale of potential fire activity in a severe season routinely exceeds what states can manage without significant federal support.
Fire researchers and former agency officials are urging Congress and the administration to restore critical support positions, unfreeze prevention grant funding, and ensure that the 2026 fire season is met with the full weight of federal resources. Time is short — the peak of fire season across the Pacific Northwest typically runs from July through September.