1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

The government shutdown is exacerbating the already critical situation of wildfire prevention and forest management in our nation. I urge you to take immediate action to pass a comprehensive budget that fully funds our federal land management agencies. While wildfire response will continue, crucial fire prevention activities like prescribed burns will be reduced. This comes at a time when our forests desperately need proactive management to mitigate the risk of catastrophic wildfires. Recent budget cuts and layoffs by this administration have already hampered the ability of these agencies to conduct essential wildfire prevention work. The shutdown is also delaying state grants for forest management and wildfire preparedness. We cannot afford further disruption and delay of critical forest health initiatives, particularly when this is the optimum time to do brush clearing and thinning. Furthermore, with FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund running low and unlikely to be replenished during a shutdown, our ability to respond to natural disasters, including wildfires, is at risk and wildfire season has not ended. I implore you to prioritize the passage of a budget that not only keeps the government open but also provides robust funding for forest management and wildfire prevention programs. This is not just an environmental issue; it's a matter of public safety and economic security for communities across the nation. Please act swiftly to ensure our federal agencies have the resources they need to protect our forests and communities from the growing threat of wildfires.