President Trump’s plan to merge all federal wildland firefighting efforts into a single agency is dangerous, shortsighted, and could cost lives. With fire season already underway and climate change intensifying the risks, now is the worst possible time to dismantle the experienced teams already in place.

Former federal fire officials are sounding the alarm: this move will increase the likelihood of catastrophic wildfires, not reduce it. Stripping the U.S. Forest Service of its firefighting role would break apart decades of coordination between land managers and fire crews, disrupt prevention work like controlled burns, and throw thousands of careers into chaos.

This isn’t reform. It’s sabotage.

More than 1.6 million acres have already burned this year. We need smarter wildfire policy, not a rushed reorganization that could delay response times, gut prevention efforts, and shift the focus from protecting communities to chasing flames.

This plan is not about safety. It’s about control and contracts. And it’s happening without public input or full transparency on costs.

We urge Congress, the Department of Agriculture, and all state leaders to oppose this merger immediately. Do not let this reckless experiment go forward. Lives, homes, and ecosystems are on the line.

Photo: AP / JC Hong