Government Slashes Red Tape to Battle Wildfires Smarter and Faster
Published Date: 6/18/2025
Presidential Document
Summary
The government is stepping up to help states and local communities fight wildfires better and faster by cutting red tape and using smarter technology. This means firefighters will get better tools, and local leaders will get more support to prevent and respond to fires. These changes start rolling out within 90 to 180 days and aim to save lives, protect homes, and use taxpayer money more wisely.
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Analyzed Economic Effects
9 provisions identified: 9 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Power-Grid Rules to Avoid Higher Bills
The Department of the Interior, Agriculture, Energy, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will consider rulemaking to reduce wildfire ignitions from the bulk-power system without increasing costs for electric-power end users. This action is to be considered within 90 days of June 12, 2025 and aims to use vegetation management, improved engineering, and safer operational practices.
Technology Roadmap for Faster Response
Within 180 days of June 12, 2025, agencies will develop a technology roadmap to boost firefighting capabilities for State and local responders using artificial intelligence, data sharing, modeling, mapping, and ignition-and-weather-identification tools. The roadmap is intended to improve detection, forecasting, and evacuation information at the local level.
Push to Use Woody Biomass to Reduce Fuel
Within 90 days of June 12, 2025, the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, shall consider promoting and facilitating innovative uses of woody biomass and forest products to reduce fuel loads in areas at risk of wildfires, consistent with applicable law.
Expand Partnerships and Mutual Aid
Within 90 days of June 12, 2025, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with DHS, shall expand and strengthen partnerships, agreements, compacts, and mutual aid capabilities that empower Federal, State, local, tribal, and community-driven land management to reduce wildfire risk and improve response, including on public lands.
Public Release of Historical Satellite Data
Within 120 days of June 12, 2025, the Secretary of Defense (in consultation with OSTP and others) shall identify, declassify, and make publicly available historical satellite datasets to help prevent wildfires and improve prediction and evaluation models. These datasets will be publicly available to aid modeling and response efforts.
EPA to Review Prescribed-Fire Restrictions
Within 90 days of June 12, 2025, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall consider modifying or rescinding Federal rules or policies that impede the appropriate use of preventative prescribed fires, consistent with applicable law. The goal is to enable prescribed burning as a wildfire mitigation tool.
Rules on Fire Retardant Use to Be Reassessed
Within 90 days of June 12, 2025, the Secretary of Agriculture and the EPA Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, shall consider modifying or rescinding Federal rules or policies that hinder the appropriate use of fire retardant to fight wildfires, consistent with applicable law.
Defense to Prioritize Sale of Excess Aircraft
Within 210 days of June 12, 2025, the Secretary of Defense shall evaluate and, as appropriate and consistent with law, prioritize the sale of excess aircraft and aircraft parts to support wildfire mitigation and response. The goal is to make additional aviation resources available for firefighting use.
Identify Rules and Set Response Metrics
Within 180 days of June 12, 2025, relevant agencies shall identify rules that impede wildfire prevention, detection, or response and consider eliminating or revising them (to be reflected in the Fall 2025 Unified Regulatory Agenda). They shall also develop performance metrics for wildfire response, including average response times and annual fuels treatments.
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