US EditionAs wildfire season approaches, budget woes and federal uncertainty have put states’ plans at risk
- Faced with a nearly $1 billion deficit, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and the City Council appealed to Sacramento for almost $2 billion in disaster recovery aid, including over $56 million for fire suppression and safety Part: 1, Part: 14.
- Washington state officials are grappling with a $12 billion budget shortfall, leading to proposed cuts of one-third to two-thirds in wildfire prevention and fighting spending by majority Democrats in the Legislature Part: 4, Part: 15, Part: 29.
- Washington's proposed budget cuts come despite the state having made wildfire fighting a priority in recent years, with a 2021 bill authorizing $125 million every two-year budget cycle for response, forest restoration, and communities, which helped ensure 95% of wildfires were contained to 10 acres or less Part: 26, Part: 31.
- According to Dave Upthegrove, the state Department of Natural Resources Commissioner, these massive cuts to wildfire prevention and response increase the threat to public safety, putting lives and homes at greater risk Part: 8, Part: 18, Part: 28, Part: 33.
- Compounding the budget issues, Michael Kelly, a DNR spokesperson, noted that instability at the federal level, including federal partners being behind on training and funding and cutting staff, will magnify shortages, while tensions between the U.S. And Canada, stemming from tariff and sovereignty threats during the Trump administration, have complicated wildfire planning, especially in border states Part: 2, Part: 9, Part: 19, Part: 20, Part: 21, Part: 22, Part: 24, Part: 29.
38 Articles
38 Articles
As wildfire season approaches, ‘massive cuts’ and other actions have put states’ plans at risk
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.
As wildfire season approaches, budget woes and federal uncertainty put Oregon, Washington and other states’ plans at risk
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 …
Associated Press News
As wildfire season approaches, budget woes and federal uncertainty have put states' plans at risk
Budget woes, cuts to the federal wildfire-fighting workforce and President Donald Trump’s threats against Canada have made it more difficult for state officials to plan for the upcoming wildfire season.
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