The House Committee on Appropriations has released a sweeping 301-page funding report that wildfire professionals are calling one of the most comprehensive wildfire budget proposals in recent memory. The report, largely shaped by Representative Mike Simpson of Idaho — a longtime advocate for federal firefighting reform — proposes $1.16 billion for the newly established U.S. Wildland Fire Service (USWFS) and makes wildland firefighter pay a top-line priority.

U.S. Wildland Fire Service: Full Funding and Consolidation

The committee's report affirms the Administration's proposal to unify wildland firefighting activities across the Department of the Interior under a single agency — the U.S. Wildland Fire Service. The committee expressed support for the consolidation concept and indicated it will address the potential absorption of the U.S. Forest Service's wildfire resources into the DOI structure once an ongoing independent feasibility study is completed.

The report states: "The bill affirms the Administration's proposal to unify firefighting activities across the Department of the Interior and establish a U.S. Wildland Fire Service and provides increases within the U.S. Wildland Fire Service and the U.S. Forest Service to support wildland firefighter pay."

Wildland Firefighter Pay: Priority Number One

Firefighter compensation appears in the fourth paragraph of the 301-page document — a signal of how central it is to the committee's priorities. The proposal builds on pay increases secured in recent years for federal wildland firefighters, who have historically been underpaid relative to the danger and demands of their work.

The committee also directed both the DOI and Forest Service to prioritize field-level staff over Washington, D.C.-based managers when implementing any overhead cost reductions, specifically protecting GS-10 and below positions in the field.

Funding Trade-Offs

To fund the elevated wildfire priorities, the committee reduced funding for most other accounts in the bill, including a $1.78 billion (20%) reduction to the Environmental Protection Agency below fiscal year 2026 enacted levels. These trade-offs are likely to generate significant debate as the bill moves through the legislative process.

Additional Wildfire Investments

Beyond the core funding and structural proposals, the report includes provisions for:

  • Improved employee housing for wildland firefighters stationed in remote locations
  • Expanded hazard pay provisions
  • Multi-year aviation contracts to provide more stable access to airtankers and helicopters
  • Technology investments for fire detection, mapping, and communication
  • Post-fire recovery and watershed rehabilitation funding

Significance for the Pacific Northwest

For the Pacific Northwest — where the Forest Service manages millions of acres and federal firefighters are critical to suppression efforts — the proposal carries significant implications. More stable aviation contracts could mean better access to airtankers and aerial resources during peak fire periods. Firefighter pay improvements would help agencies recruit and retain experienced personnel in a field that has struggled with turnover. And the push toward a unified USWFS could streamline multi-agency coordination during complex incidents like those currently burning across southeastern Washington.

The bill still faces a lengthy legislative process before becoming law, but the level of detail and the breadth of wildfire provisions signal a sustained congressional commitment to reforming how the federal government funds and fights wildland fire.