Trump Administration Issues Executive Order Revising Federal Wildfire Policy

By Madison Ross¹, Drake Mirsch, and Josh Schneiderman

On June 12, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order titled “Empowering Commonsense Wildfire Prevention and Response” (EO) setting out new directives to reshape the federal government’s approach to wildfire mitigation and response.² The Order focuses on consolidating federal wildfire programs, streamlining forest management regulation, expanding technology use, and strengthening support for state and local firefighting efforts.
 
Issued in the aftermath of the LA Fires, the EO signals a notable shift in how the federal government plans to prepare for and respond to wildfires. The changes are expected to affect a wide range of stakeholders, including landowners, utility companies, contractors, and local governments in fire-prone regions.

Consolidation of Federal Fire Programs

One of the EO’s core directives is the consolidation of wildfire responsibilities currently split between the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture. The agencies have been given 90 days to unify their wildfire operations, including their command structures, budgets, and personnel. This may lead to the formation of a new, centralized federal wildland fire service.
 
If implemented, this restructuring could improve coordination across agencies during the fire season.³ However, it is not yet clear how this shift will affect the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), particularly in light of staffing reductions that have already taken place during President Trump’s second term.⁴ Any further changes to the USFS’s role could have a significant effect on fire prevention, controlled burns, and land management efforts.

Federal Support for State and Local Response

The EO also emphasizes greater support for state and local firefighting efforts. To achieve this result, the EO seeks to enhance firefighting technology through artificial intelligence and other tools to detect and respond to fires, improve access to federal resources, and deregulate forest management, therefore allowing for quicker and more efficient wildfire response efforts.

The Department of Homeland Security has been instructed to work with the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture to ensure that federal disaster aid and grant programs are better aligned with state and local risk mitigation efforts. But while the EO reflects an intent to support local authorities, it also includes critical language about past state and local “mismanagement” of wildfires, suggesting an emphasis on federal oversight and conditional grants moving forward.
 
President Trump also used the signing event to call on utility companies to play a more active role in wildfire prevention, exemplifying growing public scrutiny around utility-caused fires.⁵ “We’re calling on every stakeholder — from utility companies to local fire districts — to bring urgency and innovation to this fight,” he stated. This request underscores the expectation that utilities should take stronger preventive measures and closely coordinate with federal agencies to reduce the risk of ignition.

Reallocating Military Resources for Firefighting

In a move aimed at expanding the nation’s aerial firefighting abilities, the EO authorizes the Department of Defense to identify and transfer excess military aircrafts and parts for wildfire suppression. Within 210 days, the Department must prioritize the sale of surplus assets, such as helicopters and cargo planes, that could be utilized for firefighting.
 
This builds on prior legislation seeking to transfer military equipment to civilian agencies for emergency response.⁶ The combination of these efforts could significantly increase the resources available to state and local responders during peak fire seasons.

Next Steps

Although the EO outlines a broad federal strategy, many of the details of implementation remain to be seen. It does not specify how the agencies are expected to implement the outlined directives, such as consolidation or conditional aid. Much of this will depend on the regulatory guidance and rulemaking expected to come later this year.
 
Stakeholders involved in forestry, utilities, land use planning, or emergency response should begin assessing how this new federal directive could impact operations and future liabilities. With many of the agency reports due this fall, early preparation may help businesses adapt to the evolving regulatory and operational landscape.
 
Snell & Wilmer will continue to monitor these developments and provide updates as agencies begin rolling out implementation plans.

Any opinions expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily of the firm or their colleagues.