USDA and DOI Announce Bold Federal Reforms to Improve Nation’s Wildfire Response System

(Washington, D.C., September 15, 2025) - U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins today issued a new memorandum to modernize and strengthen America's wildfire prevention and response system. This policy direction enacts common-sense reforms that modernize and streamline federal wildfire system. Concurrently, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum issued his own memorandum to streamline capabilities and strengthen federal, state, and local partnerships.

"Time and time again, we have witnessed the devastating consequences of wildfires caused by mismanagement and a lack of preparedness. Under President Trump's leadership, we are taking bold action to modernize wildfire response systems, streamline federal wildfire capabilities, and strengthen their effectiveness. We started this work in the spring and have continually updated our policies and programs to properly manage our forests through common-sense timber production and management, protecting our national forests and grasslands for generations to come," said Secretary Brooke Rollins. "Secretary Burgum and I are committed to leading a bold transformation of the federal wildfire system to help our communities, neighbors, and partners better prepare for, respond to, and recover from wildfires."

"For too long, outdated and fragmented systems have slowed our ability to fight fires and protect lives. Under President Trump's leadership, we are cutting through the bureaucracy and building a unified, modern wildfire response system that works as fast and as fearlessly as the men and women on the front lines," said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. "By streamlining federal capabilities and strengthening our partnerships with state, tribal and local teams, we will deliver the common-sense reforms needed to safeguard our communities, our lands and our future."

The memorandum marks a decisive shift away from outdated systems and fragmented responses that have too often hindered federal firefighting and wildfire response efforts. In response to President Trump's Executive Order 14308 - Empowering Commonsense Wildfire Prevention and Response, USDA will unify operations, strengthen partnerships with state, Tribal, and local governments, and modernize tools and training to better protect American communities from the escalating threat of wildfire.

A Unified Federal Effort

Through this plan, USDA and DOI will work in lockstep to unify federal wildland fire capabilities, eliminate fragmentation, and deliver a forward-looking, mission-ready system that prioritizes common sense, efficiency, and results.

###