Trump Orders Consolidation of US Wildfire Programs to Enhance Response

President Donald Trump signed an executive order in June 2025 directing the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and the Interior to consolidate their wildland fire programs to improve preparedness, response speed, and resource efficiency. The order emphasizes empowering state and local firefighting capabilities through modern technology, including artificial intelligence, data sharing, and mapping, while urging the reduction of unnecessary regulations and bureaucracy that hinder rapid wildfire response. It also calls for better cooperation across federal agencies and prioritizes aggressive initial attack tactics to minimize fire size and containment time. Additionally, the order addresses forest management improvements such as brush clearance and prescribed burns, while directing the Department of Defense to support wildfire mitigation through the sale of excess aircraft and parts. The administration cites the catastrophic January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires as a catalyst for the order, blaming slow local response and reckless mismanagement for the devastation. This initiative aligns with congressional efforts and advocacy groups' support for creating a unified National Wildland Fire Service to modernize and streamline wildfire management nationwide.