Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities
** Trump to merge wildland fire agencies in the middle of wildfire season
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Friday, June 13, 2025
Indian Butte Fire in Idaho, 2018. Photo by Austin Catlin, BLM. Flickr ([link removed])
On Thursday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order ([link removed]) requiring a consolidation of several wildland firefighting programs in the next 90 days, despite warnings ([link removed]) from former federal officials that it could be costly and increase the risk of catastrophic wildfires heading into peak season.
Firefighting efforts are currently split among five agencies and two cabinet departments—the Interior department and the Department of Agriculture. The order aims to centralize these efforts, which would require shifting thousands of personnel from the Forest Service to this new agency with wildfire season already underway.
Trump's order came just hours after Interior Secretary Doug Burgum admitted to Congress ([link removed]) that he has no idea how many ‘red card’ certified wildfire support staff are left at the Interior department.
The order also comes just days after the U.S. Forest Service chief asked employees ([link removed]) who took the Trump administration’s deferred resignation offer to come back for the wildfire season.
“If President Trump was serious about improving the nation’s wildland firefighting capabilities, he would stop hollowing out the agencies tasked with fighting wildfires and prioritize the climate and weather science that firefighters need to analyze risk,” said ([link removed]) Center for Western Priorities Deputy Director Aaron Weiss. “This executive order is nothing more than a performative gesture that will cause chaos just as wildfire risk is ramping up in the West.”
** Quick hits
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A plan to sell public land is back. This time, it's millions of acres
New York Times ([link removed]) | CPR News ([link removed]) | Idaho Capital Sun ([link removed]) | Idaho Statesman ([link removed]) | Albuquerque Journal ([link removed]) | Grist ([link removed])
Trump to merge wildland firefighting forces, despite warning of chaos
The Guardian ([link removed])
You can visit any national park for free on June 19
Denver Post ([link removed])
Trump bid to shrink monuments could prompt big legal battle
E&E News ([link removed])
Wyoming lawmakers consider cementing corner crossing as legal
Wyoming Public Radio ([link removed])
Interior moves to reverse Biden-era mining rule
E&E News ([link removed])
Trump's National Energy Dominance Council sets its sights on Alaska's energy potential
National Interest ([link removed])
“An exciting step.” At least one new litter of wolf pups spotted by Colorado wildlife officials
Colorado Sun ([link removed])
** Quote of the day
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” We need to think about what we [are] leaving for future generations. Ensuring that people can access their public land is something that I am dedicated to doing.”
—Wyoming State Representative Karlee Provenza, Wyoming Public Radio ([link removed])
** Picture This
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@BLMNational ([link removed])
National Conservation Lands are a system of spectacular landscapes that encompass more than 38 million acres of beautiful, historic, and culturally significant public land. Discover and connect with these extraordinary places in three new story maps [link removed] ([link removed]) .
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