Federal land management agencies like the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management have been tasked by Congress to protect and restore our federal public lands.
Unfortunately, these agencies do not have adequate funding to carry out their regular program of work. Because of the high cost of putting out fires, this regular program of work often gets set aside during wildfire season. Currently, more than half of the U.S. Forest Service’s budget is used to suppress wildfires. These funds come from programs designed to reduce hazardous fuels such as brush and small trees, create wildlife habitat, and restore landscapes. Addressing this problem requires Congressional action to change the way in which fighting fires is funded by the federal government. Congress should separate how land management agencies pay for fire management and how they pay for restoration and fire prevention activities to create healthy forests that are resilient to disturbance. Thankfully, a proposal is pending before Congress to to change the way fire fighting is funded by the federal government. If enacted, it would allow the land management agencies to focus on creating more resilient forests.
