Daines Applauds Trump Administration for Prioritizing Wildfire Emergency

Trump administration announces expansion of Daines’ provision to increase forest management practices

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today applauded President Trump and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins for expanding the use of Daines’ provision that codified the Forest Service’s “Emergency Situation Determination” to increase streamlined forest management projects in areas facing an emergency. Thousands of acres of National Forest System lands across Montana are at risk of catastrophic wildfires and this expansion will speed up on-the-ground work.

“Montanans and folks across the West are sick and tired of breathing in smoke. It is refreshing to have a President and USDA Secretary who recognize the dire emergency of wildfires and stand ready to protect our communities by implementing commonsense, science-based forest management projects,” Daines said.

Background: 

Daines introduced a provision that was signed into law in 2021 that was modeled after the Forest Service’s Emergency Situation Determination authority. This authority allows the Secretary of Agriculture to determine where an emergency exists which gives the Forest Service streamlined authority to take emergency actions to protect public health and safety, critical infrastructure and natural resources on National Forest System lands.

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Contact: Matt Lloyd, Rachel Dumke