The U.S. Forest Service has surpassed its hiring targets for wildland firefighters this summer, with 11,550 seasonal staff ready. This comes as Western states face historically dry conditions and fast-moving wildfires, raising concerns among state officials about the impact of recent federal staff downsizing.
A US Forest Service grant intended for wildfire prevention is delayed due to new federal policies requiring partners to adhere to "America First" initiatives like immigration and diversity hiring, preventing crucial controlled burns.
The U.S. Forest Service reduced vegetation management by nearly 1.5 million acres in 2025 compared to 2024, with prescribed burns falling by half. The agency lost 16% of its workforce amid Trump administration cuts, raising concerns among fire experts who warn that reduced controlled burning fuels extreme wildfires. A case in point: the Teakettle Experimental Forest in California burned in one day last August after planned prescribed burns were delayed.
