Legislators evaluate a proposed restructuring of federal firefighting roles while working to advance a multibill spending package.
Members of the Senate are making progress on funding for the Department of the Interior after Senator Tim Sheehy of Montana lifted his hold over the proposed consolidation of federal wildfire operations from the president’s administration. President Donald Trump issued an executive order intending to place most federal wildfire functions under a new Wildland Fire Service within the Interior Department while coordinating with the Forest Service.
Some legislators and former officials raised concerns about potential disruption to the Forest Service, prompting both chambers to include language slowing implementation until further study. Senator Sheehy, a supporter of consolidation, negotiated the removal of provisions he believed would halt the effort. His bill with Senator Alex Padilla of California also seeks to streamline the federal wildfire response.
“When catastrophic wildfires break out on federal lands, we can’t afford to waste time or resources overcoming communication and coordination barriers,” Senator Padilla stated when he and Senator Sheehy introduced the bill.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For federal and state legislators working on wildfire management to be led by the Lord as they make decisions to improve public safety and operational readiness.
- For officials in the Agriculture and Interior Departments, and the Forest Service, as they assess restructuring options and their potential impact on firefighters.
- For House Speaker Johnson and Majority Leader Thune as they work to finalize appropriations for fiscal year 2026 before the January 30 deadline.
Sources: Roll Call, E&E News, MSN
