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Congress·In Committee·about 1 year ago

Congress Proposes Creating a Single National Wildland Firefighting Service to Streamline Response

Also known as: Fit for Purpose Wildfire Readiness Act of 2025

Legislative Progress

✓ Filed
Review
Senate
House
President

Impact Analysis

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

State Impacts

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Key Points

  • This bill asks the government to create a plan for a new agency called the National Wildland Firefighting Service. Right now, two different departments handle wildfires, and this plan would put them both under one roof at the Department of the Interior.
  • The goal is to make the federal response to wildfires more organized. The new agency would handle everything from preparing for fires and putting them out to helping communities recover after the smoke clears.
  • The plan must include a budget for the new agency and a list of what tools and powers it needs to do the job. It also requires the agency to be led by a Director who is appointed by the President and approved by the Senate.
  • If this bill becomes law, the heads of the Agriculture and Interior departments would have 180 days to finish the plan and present it to Congress. This is the first step toward a major change in how the U.S. fights large-scale forest fires.
Energy Environment

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Feb 6, 2025Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Feb 6, 2025

Introduced in Senate

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

180 days after enactment (if passed)

Plan for the new National Wildland Firefighting Service is due to Congress

The Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior would submit a detailed plan including a budget, leadership qualifications, and needed authorities. No actual changes happen yet — this is a roadmap for Congress to consider.

Related News

1 article
Semafor·about 1 year ago

Sens. Padilla, Sheehy propose new wildfire agency

Montana Sen. Tim Sheehy and California Sen. Alex Padilla introduced a bill to organize wildfire response under a new National Wildland Firefighting Service within the Interior Department. The bill requires a plan for a Senate-confirmable director and a specific budget to streamline operations.

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Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Fit for Purpose Wildfire Readiness Act of 2025

Bill NumberS 441
Congress119th Congress
ChamberSenate
Latest ActionRead twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(2)
D: 1R: 1

Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.