07.24.25

Under Cantwell Pressure, Admin Releases Critical Wildfire Funds

Trump’s Office of Management and Budget had been withholding $20 million already allocated to WA state to prepare for and respond to wildfires

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the Spend Plan for the over $280 million in overdue FY 2025 U.S. Forest Service State, Private and Tribal Forestry (SPTF) funding, including approximately $20 million for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources to use for firefighting training and equipment, forest management, and landscape restoration.

 

"The State of Washington is in the middle of an active and dangerous wildfire season. 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," said U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), senior member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

“Thank you, Senator Cantwell, for your leadership in securing the release of fiscal year (FY) 2025 Forest Service funding for the State, Private, and Tribal Forestry programs,” said George Geissler, State Forester for Washington. “This critical funding was at risk of being included in a recission 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. On behalf of the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR), we thank you for your tireless advocacy in support of our work.”

SPTF funding is typically released to states months prior to the start of wildfire season to be used to train and equip state, local, and volunteer emergency responders and firefighters. This includes funding for fire academies, personal protection equipment, fire pumps, hoses, nozzles, and other safety gear. Delays risked the funding being rescinded by the Trump Administration and could degrade state and local efforts to prepare for and respond to wildfires this summer and in the future.

On July 10, Sen. Cantwell questioned U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz about why the Trump Administration was withholding the SPTF funding.

“It's a budget that's already been approved. So why aren't we releasing the funds that go to the community so that they can best prepare for this fire season?” Sen. Cantwell asked during the July 10 Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing.

“We have not made a determination yet, but that's something that is being evaluated,” Schultz responded. “We can't commit that that's for sure going to go out yet.”

Video of Sen. Cantwell’s questioning of Schultz is HERE; a transcript is HERE.

On July 16, Sen. Cantwell participated in a virtual briefing hosted by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins outlining the current wildfire situation and outlook across the western United States. During the briefing, she questioned Rollins on why OMB continued to withhold $280 million in SPTF funds.

Nationally, state, local, and volunteer fire departments respond to roughly 80% of all wildfires each year. Last year DNR, along with local first responders, successfully kept over 93% of fires in Washington state at 10 acres or less. Funds from the SPTF can also be used for hazardous fuels work on non-federal land in the wildland urban interface (WUI), to recover land that has been burned, and for forest health management.

The National Interagency Fire Center outlook predicts high wildfire risk across the entirety of Washington state from July through September 2025, and a high risk in Eastern and Central Washington in October. Six wildfires are currently burning in the state, and as of July 22, more than 37,000 acres have burned in the State of Washington this year.