Press Releases

Washington, D.C. (March 13, 2013) – As the U.S. Forest Service prepares for the start of fire season, they received bad news from the Senate Democrats today- another round of cuts were proposed in the Senate. The most recently proposed cuts come just weeks after the agency’s budget was affected by the 5% across-the-board cuts known as the sequester, which already posed significant threats to the agency’s ability to successfully fight wildfires in the upcoming year.

Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell testified today in front of the Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy and Forestry to discuss the very real dangers that arise from the sequester. “If you have fewer firefighters, fewer engines, fewer aircraft, you're always increasing the probability” that fires will get out of control, Tidwell said. Another budget cut on top of the sequester is potentially devastating to our ability to fight wildfires.

Congressman Steve Pearce, Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus, released the following statement in response to the proposed second round of cuts:

“I am bewildered that my Senate colleagues are ignoring the threats wildfires present to our safety and livelihoods by slashing the Forest Service budget. Senate Democrats seem to think that increased salaries at the Smithsonian are more important than preventing millions of acres from burning this year. By disregarding the dangers of forest fires and current drought conditions, Senate Democrats have made it clear that their top priority are environmental score card ratings in time for next year’s re-election. After the destruction of last year’s wildfires, I hope the Senate reconsiders these crippling cuts to the Forest Service.”