WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released a new memorandum directing reforms to the federal wildfire response system. The action follows President Donald Trump’s June executive order, Empowering Commonsense Wildfire Prevention and Response (E.O. 14308), and sets out changes aimed at improving coordination, reducing administrative delays, and updating operations across agencies.
The memorandum, signed by Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins, cites the growing scale and cost of wildfires as the reason for restructuring how the federal government works with states, Tribes, and local governments. It highlights outdated systems, inconsistent standards, and delays in reimbursements as key issues the reforms seek to address.
Reform Areas
The directives include:
- Aviation and Coordination: Overhaul of aircraft programs, contracting, and interagency training standards.
- Partnerships and Agreements: Revisions to interagency and cooperative agreements, creation of joint procurement and payment centers, and measures to accelerate reimbursements.
- Research and Technology: Establishment of a joint governance structure for wildfire research, modernization of protective equipment standards, and development of a unified IT system.
- Mitigation and Recovery: Use of unified wildfire risk mapping, creation of a five-year rehabilitation framework, and updates to policies on prescribed fire and retardant use.
- Workforce Structure: By April 2026, implementation of a new leadership structure within the Forest Service and standardization of fire staffing and job classifications.
Implementation
The USDA stated that the reforms will be implemented immediately, with progress timelines ranging from 30 to 270 days depending on the directive. Oversight will be led by the Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment in coordination with the Department of the Interior.
