Oregon – Senator Jeff Merkley and Representative Val Hoyle of Oregon have introduced the Wildfire Resilient Communities Act in response to illegal funding cuts from the Trump Administration that threaten efforts to stop wildfires. This is a big push in Congress to lower the risk of wildfires and make forest-dependent communities more economically stable.
Merkley called the depletion of federal financing for wildfire mitigation “reckless,” and this law is meant to directly oppose that. “You can’t get ready after the fire starts,” Merkley said, emphasizing the need for proactive investment. The plan would give a lot more money to the federal government to help manage forests and get communities ready for wildfires that are getting longer and more intense because of climate change.
The Wildfire Resilient Communities Act would create a $30 billion fund to help organizations like the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management work on more initiatives to stop wildfires. It also wants to triple the money for the Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program, bringing it up to $3 billion.
The Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program (CFLR), which is a key part of Oregon’s efforts to restore its forests, would also be permanently reauthorized. There is also a new County Stewardship Fund to reward counties that help with federal land management contracts.
Representative Hoyle underscored the bill’s long-term vision: “This legislation invests in prevention, resilience, and local jobs—because protecting our communities shouldn’t stop at putting out fires. It starts with smart, proactive stewardship, and that’s exactly what this bill delivers.”
Merkley has been quite vocal in his criticism of the Trump Administration’s decision to relocate wildfire mitigation funds. He is the Ranking Member of the Senate subcommittee that handles financing for land management agencies. He has done things to put pressure on federal agencies to change their minds and give money back before another detrimental wildfire season starts.
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Environmental groups, forest collaboratives, and rural leaders have all backed the bill. The Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center, Sustainable Northwest, Silvix Resources, and the Lomakatsi Restoration Project are just a few of the groups that have backed the bill. They like that it focuses on working together to restore forests based on research and helps rural economies.
Pam Marsh, an Oregon state lawmaker representing wildfire-prone southern Oregon, called the plan a “jumpstart” for important forest initiatives. Paul Anderes, a commissioner for Union County, said that the bill will “build on the progress that has been made in so many areas to make our fire-prone communities safer.”
“The need for increased investment in our federal forests and rural communities has never been more urgent,” said Dylan Kruse, President at Sustainable Northwest. “We can’t afford to keep playing catch up. This bill takes immediate action to address the massive management backlog on our forests, and expands effective programs to prepare for the future. We commend Senator Merkley for his bipartisan leadership and introducing legislation that will make a real difference with resources that meet the scale of need.”
The Wildfire Resilient Communities Act represents a bold federal commitment to fighting wildfires not just with suppression, but with prevention, planning, and local empowerment. Lawmakers hope it will restore critical resources and partnerships needed to protect both people and forests across Oregon and the western U.S.
