March 5, 2026 5:40 a.m. 

On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden called on the Trump administration to provide a detailed plan for how it plans to help communities in Oregon and the West prepare for what has the potential to be a catastrophic fire season amid record-low snowpack and worsening drought conditions.

A Wyden release said most regions in Oregon have just one-third of their annual average snowpack. In his letter, Wyden claimed that Donald Trump’s staffing and budget cuts in 2025 led directly to a reduction in wildland firefighting personnel, and fewer acres of hazardous fuel treatment during cooler, wetter months. Wyden said a lack of preparedness coupled with ongoing drought conditions could have catastrophic consequences for Oregon communities this fire season.

Last year, in response to an inquiry made by Wyden, the Trump administration confirmed the U.S. Forest Service was lagging behind hazardous fuels treatment levels relative to previous years. The Forest Service also confirmed the budget and staffing cuts made by DOGE in the first half of 2025 resulted in a loss of 1400 qualified wildland firefighting personnel.

Wyden is requesting answers to a number of questions no later than March 20th.

The full letter for Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz is linked: https://www.wyden.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/usfs_fire_preparedness_letter.pdf