WASHINGTON, D.C. – The federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the release of over $280 million in delayed Fiscal Year 2025 U.S. Forest Service State, Private, and Tribal Forestry (SPTF) funding, including approximately $20 million designated for Washington State.
The funding, which had been withheld by the Trump Administration, will go to the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for wildfire training, equipment, forest management, and landscape restoration.
Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), a senior member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, led the push to secure the funds.
“The State of Washington is in the middle of an active and dangerous wildfire season,” Cantwell said. “After questioning the Chief of the Forest Service and the Secretary of Agriculture, I am pleased that Washington — and all states — are finally receiving the funding they need to prepare for and respond to wildfires this summer and in the future.”
Washington State Forester George Geissler thanked Cantwell for her advocacy.
“This critical funding was at risk of being included in a rescission by the Trump Administration, but because of your efforts will now be put to work in support of forest health protection, private forest landowners, urban and community forests, and wildfire preparedness and response efforts across the State of Washington,” Geissler said.
SPTF funds are typically distributed before the start of wildfire season to support firefighter training, personal protective equipment, fire pumps, hoses, nozzles, and other firefighting gear. This funding also supports fire academies and preparedness for state, local, and volunteer responders. The delay risked losing access to these funds entirely.
According to the Washington DNR, state and local fire departments, along with volunteers, respond to roughly 80% of all wildfires nationally. In 2024, Washington DNR and partners kept over 93% of wildfires in the state to 10 acres or less.
SPTF funds are also used to mitigate wildfire risks in the wildland urban interface, conduct hazardous fuels reduction, and manage post-fire recovery and forest health on non-federal lands.
The National Interagency Fire Center projects elevated wildfire risk across the entire state from July through September, with continued high risk in Eastern and Central Washington in October.
