Despite President Trump's previous endorsements of forest management and fire prevention, his administration's recent actions have created roadblocks for critical wildfire prevention work across Western states.
The administration has placed holds on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) contracts and implemented a federal hiring freeze, disrupting planned fire prevention activities and firefighter recruitment. These decisions come shortly after devastating fires swept through parts of Altadena and Pacific Palisades.
The contract freeze affects work funded by Biden-era legislation, including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, which allocated over $3 billion for fuel reduction projects. These projects involve removing brush and trees in fire-prone areas to prevent catastrophic blazes.
"It's a slap in the face. It's completely disrespectful," said Steve Gutierrez from the National Federation of Federal Employees, noting that some firefighter onboarding was halted due to the hiring freeze.
The impact is already being felt on the ground. One restoration company in the Northwest had to lay off 15 full-time employees and suspend operations due to uncertainty about payment for work under Biden-approved funding.
California Professional Firefighters union president Brian K. Rice expressed concern, pointing out that nearly half of California consists of federal land, including "some of the wildest, most burnable areas of our state."
White House deputy press secretary Harrison Fields defended the administration's position, stating the review doesn't mean they don't want the work completed. "Proper oversight of the dollars is just as important as ensuring that California gets restored," Fields said.
The situation has drawn criticism from Congress, with 57 House members and multiple Western senators demanding the administration lift the holds and resume normal operations. They warn that without swift corrective action, communities will face increased vulnerability to extreme wildfire threats.
The freeze particularly impacts the U.S. Forest Service, which already struggles with recruitment and retention. The agency has experienced a 45% attrition rate among firefighters over the past four years, largely due to lower pay compared to state and municipal agencies.
These administrative hurdles stand in stark contrast to Trump's previous statements about forest management, including his calls for increased "raking" of forest floors following the 2018 Camp Fire that devastated Paradise, California.