New federal requirements tied to immigration and diversity initiatives have stalled grants for controlled burns across multiple states, raising concerns among firefighters and land managers about heightened wildfire risks this season.
The U.S. Forest Service promised more than $9 million last August to the Columbia Land Trust in southern Washington for controlled burns over five years. As of April, the group had received none of the funds due to new conditions on partnerships with the agency. Similar delays have affected 22 states and two tribes promised $200 million through the Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program.