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Oregon lawmakers warn of severe wildfire season and press federal leaders to preserve staffing, research
Summary
Senators and members of Congress from Oregon warned of a drier, longer wildfire season, citing record‑low snowpack and the potential loss of Forest Service staff and research; they said expiring funds and proposed federal reorganization could weaken response capacity.
Senator Merkley said lawmakers who briefed on Oregon fire risk described a season of "low rain, high temperatures [and] longer fire seasons" and urged federal leaders to maintain funding and personnel for wildfire response.
The briefing, lawmakers said, painted a stark picture: Oregon is facing what one member called a "snow drought" and, according to Congresswoman Bonamici, "right now we're experiencing here in Oregon the lowest snowpack since the 1980s." Lawmakers warned that earlier starts, longer seasons and worsening smoke risks would strain communities and response systems.
Why it matters: Lawmakers said recent increases in forest management spending—"Over the last 6 years, we spent $6 billion across the country in forest management," Senator Merkley said—have expanded thinning, prescribed burns and other work, but those resources and programs are at risk. Several speakers said portions of that funding came from measures that are expiring and must be sustained in upcoming Interior and appropriations bills.
Key claims and concerns: Congresswoman Bonamici said the administration is proposing cuts that would hamper forecasting and air‑quality monitoring, telling the briefing that "this administration is trying to shutter the EPA office that monitors air quality and smoke from wildfires" and that proposed consolidations at the U.S. Forest Service and cuts at NOAA and NASA would undermine research. Andrea Salinas said she wanted to give constituents reassurance—"We've got you. And this is going to be okay."—but stressed that volunteers could not substitute for trained, paid wildland firefighters.
Staffing and reorganization risks: A speaker identified only as Jeff warned that the Forest Service is "saying that they're going to eliminate 7,000 positions over the coming year. That's somewhere around a 20% reduction," and urged a cautious approach to any transfer of firefighting roles to other agencies. Lawmakers said they have asked that no major reorganization proceed until a federal study is completed; the Forest Chief, they reported, has acknowledged a study is underway and that it could take roughly six months.
Operational impacts: Lawmakers also raised operational indicators: one speaker noted about "35,000" fewer acres were treated last year compared with the prior year even though treatments remained above a five‑year average, and several repeated the briefing's assessment of a "deeper crop of live fuels" on forest floors that increases fire risk.
Next steps: Speakers said they will press for funding and staffing in the Interior spending process, push to maintain research budgets and press for study and consultation before any sweeping Forest Service reorganization. Lawmakers remained clear that they plan follow‑up meetings with agency staff after the briefing.
The briefing concluded with lawmakers saying they would continue to press federal leaders to preserve research, data and the personnel needed to prepare for what they called a potentially severe fire season.
