Federal Wildland Firefighters at Interior, USDA, Ordered to Merge into Single Force

The Trump Administration is trying to streamline the way the federal government fights wildfires, calling for major organizational changes in the middle of fire season. 

In an executive order, President Trump ordered the Department of Interior and the Department of Agriculture’s U.S. Forest Service to merge their wildland firefighting programs. 

The order gives the agencies 90 days to coordinate programs, budgets, procurement processes, research, and other functions, but does not say which agency will oversee the new unit.  The White House says the plan will improve federal partnerships and lead to the “most efficient and effective use of wildland fire offices.”

The order also encourages cooperation and the empowerment of state, local, and tribal officials. It also calls for the increased use of technology including artificial intelligence, data sharing, and mapping capabilities, as well as adopting strategies for land management and wildfire prevention.

For instance, the order gives the Department of Agriculture and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 90 days to get rid of federal rules or policies that impede the use of appropriate, preventative prescribed fires.

“Wildfires threaten every region, yet many local government entities continue to disregard commonsense preventative measures,” said the executive order. “Firefighters across the country are forced to rely on outdated technology and face challenges in quickly responding to wildfires because of unnecessary regulation and bureaucracy,” said the executive order.

Mixed Reaction from Employee Groups

“Making major changes during fire season, without congressional authorization or full planning, could be disastrous for both employees and public safety,” wrote the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) in a memo to its union members. 

But there was a different take from the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF). IAFF General President Edward Kelly was in the oval office for the signing ceremony. 

“We must ensure firefighters have the resources, training, and coordination needed to safely combat wildfires and protect their communities. We will now use every tool at our disposal to work with the administration to ensure that the health and safety of fire fighters is at the forefront of the roll-out of this executive order,” stated Kelly. 

The changes come as the wildfire season continues to get more severe. The Associated Press reported that more than 65,000 wildfires across the U.S. burned almost nine million acres in 2024.