Wildland Fire Reforms: What They Mean for Managers — and How to Protect Yourself
New Structure, New Expectations
The Departments of Interior and Agriculture recently announced a plan to consolidate and modernize the nation’s wildland firefighting forces under a new U.S. Wildland Fire Service. While the proposed reforms aim to improve efficiency and coordination, they also create new challenges for managers and supervisors tasked with overseeing the transition.
These changes will fall on wildland firefighting managers to implement—requiring them to adapt quickly to new systems, processes, and accountability measures. This process may leave managers vulnerable to allegations of mismanagement or inefficiency if reforms are delayed, mishandled, or fail to produce the intended results. While navigating these changes, it’s important that federal managers have the tools to protect themselves – a professional liability insurance (PLI) policy from FEDS Protection can help.
Agency Adjustment
Agency reforms will include consolidated predictive services, streamlined procurement and aviation functions, updated training and qualifications, modernizing IT and protective equipment standards, and boosting interagency coordination.
Managers in wildland firefighting will be responsible for turning policy into practice. That means oversight of implementation, staffing and training the workforce, ensuring equipment meets new standards, adjusting procurement contracts, and maintaining performance—all while responding to fires, public expectations, and political pressure.
Any missteps—whether delayed training, equipment failures, or inefficient coordination—could be scrutinized by oversight bodies, the public, or even Congress. Even well-intentioned decisions may be second-guessed, leaving managers exposed to criticism and allegations of wrongdoing.
Increased Risk of Allegations & Liability
Implementing large-scale reform brings with it increased risk. If reform priorities are delayed, misapplied, or don’t deliver as promised, managers can face serious exposures:
Allegations of mismanagement or inefficiency if budgets, staffing, or procurement deadlines are not met.
Administrative investigations when operational gaps occur — e.g., failure to modernize equipment, training shortfalls, or breakdowns in coordination.
Reputational damage from public scrutiny, media, or oversight bodies, which can lead to investigations. When reforms don’t go smoothly, managers are often the first to be questioned.
Managers may be asked to justify decisions where systems overlap, where resource constraints force trade-offs, or when changes disrupt workflow. Even good-faith decisions made under pressure can come under review.
FEDS PLI for Wildland Fire Managers
With these risks, a FEDS Protection Professional Liability Insurance (PLI) policy isn’t just useful — it’s essential.
FEDS Protection PLI helps with:
Civil liability protection: Covers attorney’s fees, settlements/judgments up to your policy’s limit of $1 million, $2 million, or $3 million if someone sues you personally over actions taken while rendering your professional service.
Administrative coverage: If your agency or other administrative entities (IG, Congress) opens investigations or imposes discipline based on errors or omissions taken, PLI helps with legal representation.
Criminal defense coverage: In cases where disciplinary or criminal claims arise from alleged misconduct under reform policies, you may need criminal legal defense coverage.
Annual premiums for FEDS Protection PLI start at $290. Additionally, federal managers, supervisors, and law enforcement officers are eligible for a reimbursement of up to 50% the cost of their PLI policy through their agency.
To learn more about how a PLI policy can safeguard your career, visit www.fedsprotection.com or call (866) 955-FEDS Monday-Friday, 8:30am-6pm EST to speak with a representative.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
