Wyden Sounds Alarm on Trump Administration’s Hazardous Fuels Backlog

Wyden Sounds Alarm on Trump Administration's Hazardous Fuels Backlog

Trump administration's failure to tackle backlog of hazardous fuels buildup will contribute to historic wildfire season, Wyden warns

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today at a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing sounded the alarm on the Trump administration's failure to address a massive backlog of hazardous fuels buildup ahead of what could be a historic wildfire season in Oregon and the West.

"Between reduced goals for hazardous fuels treatment, layoffs and the budget cuts, I believe Donald Trump has set western states up to fail this season and in the years ahead," Wyden said to U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz at the hearing to consider Donald Trump's FY2027 budget request for the U.S. Forest Service.

"Your agency is in charge of 193 million acres of public lands. Apparently the President thinks if you treat two percent of that acreage annually, communities will be okay," Wyden said. "Oregonians choking on smoke each summer don't have to do the math to say that isn't working."

Earlier this year, Wyden pressed the administration on its fire preparedness plans following Trump's budget and staffing cuts in 2025, and a reduction in hazardous fuels treatment amid record-low snowpack and worsening drought in Oregon. In his response to Wyden's letter, Chief Schultz confirmed that under the first year of Trump's second term, the Forest Service has only treated 3.3 million acres for FY26, nearly one million acres short of FY25, during which 4.29 million acres were treated.

Wyden also pressed Chief Schultz at today's hearing on the savings resulting from his "fire borrowing fix" law, which ensured that the Forest Service no longer must raid fire prevention funds to pay for suppression of active fires. Chief Schultz confirmed that Wyden's fire borrowing law has saved $12.5 billion in funding, to be used on critical fuels reduction and other work. The law is set to expire next year, and Wyden is working to secure a permanent extension.

Video of Wyden's exchange with Chief Schultz is here.