By the authority bestowed upon me as President under the Constitution and laws of the United States, I hereby enact the following order:
Section 1. Purpose. The catastrophic wildfires that ravaged Los Angeles in January 2025 left the nation reeling and underscored the dire consequences of inadequate state and local disaster responses. In California, and elsewhere, the sluggish and insufficient reaction to wildfires can often be traced back to poor management and a lack of preparedness. Wildfires present a threat across all regions, yet many local authorities continue to ignore basic preventive strategies. Firefighters nationwide are hampered by outdated tools and bogged down by unnecessary regulations and red tape.
The Federal Government has the capacity to enhance the capabilities of state and local leaders by simplifying federal wildfire processes, thereby boosting their efficiency and endorsing sensible, tech-driven local solutions for land management and wildfire response.
Sec. 2. Streamlining Federal Wildland Fire Governance. Within 90 days of this order, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture are directed to consolidate their wildland fire efforts to ensure an efficient and effective deployment of resources. This includes coordinating offices, programs, budgets, and research, while also suggesting additional measures to further this aim.
Sec. 3. Encouraging Local Wildfire Preparedness and Response. (a) Within 90 days of this order, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture, in collaboration with the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall:
(i) expand and fortify partnerships, agreements, and mutual aid efforts that empower federal, state, local, tribal, and community-oriented land management to reduce wildfire risks and enhance response capabilities on public lands; and
(ii) devise and broaden incentives for responsible land management and proactive wildfire prevention, mitigation, and response strategies at both state and local levels.
(b) Within 180 days of this order, the aforementioned secretaries, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce and leaders from agencies represented at the National Interagency Fire Center, shall:
(i) create a comprehensive technological roadmap, in partnership with the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), aimed at boosting firefighting capabilities at state and local levels. This includes employing artificial intelligence, data sharing, advanced modeling, and mapping tools, as well as technologies for tracking wildfire ignitions and weather forecasts to inform evacuation and response plans; and
(ii) advance a risk-informed strategy, aligned with Executive Order 14239 from March 18, 2025 (Achieving Efficiency Through State and Local Preparedness), to formulate new policies that eliminate barriers to wildfire prevention and response, such as establishing year-round readiness and improving forest health, as outlined in Executive Order 14225 from March 1, 2025 (Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production).
Sec. 4. Strengthening Wildfire Mitigation. Within 90 days of this order:
(a) The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shall evaluate the modification or repeal of federal regulations that hinder the effective use of preventative prescribed burns.
(b) The Secretary of Agriculture and the EPA Administrator, along with the Secretary of the Interior, shall assess federal policies that obstruct the use of fire retardants in wildfire suppression efforts.
(c) The Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, shall promote and facilitate innovative applications of woody biomass and forest products to lower fuel loads in wildfire-prone areas.
(d) The Secretaries of the Interior, Agriculture, Energy, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will consider initiating rulemaking to establish best practices for reducing wildfire ignition risks from the bulk-power system without imposing additional costs on electric consumers, through strategies like vegetation management and the removal of hazardous fuels along transmission lines.
(e) The Attorney General, in collaboration with the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior, shall review ongoing and proposed litigation involving electrical utility companies related to wildfires, ensuring that the Department’s positions support the wildfire prevention and mitigation objectives of this order.
Sec. 5. Modernizing Wildfire Prevention and Response.
(a) Within 120 days of this order, the Secretary of Defense, in conjunction with the OSTP Director, the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, and relevant agency heads, shall identify, declassify, and publicly release historical satellite data that could enhance wildfire prevention and response, improving prediction and evaluation models.
(b) Within 180 days, the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture, working with the Secretary of Commerce and agency heads from the National Interagency Fire Center, shall:
(i) identify existing regulations that hinder wildfire prevention, detection, or response and consider revising or eliminating these rules, in accordance with applicable law. This assessment will be reflected in the Fall 2025 Unified Regulatory Agenda.
(ii) create performance metrics for wildfire response, including response times, annual fuel treatment data, safety, cost-effectiveness, and other relevant metrics for strategic and annual performance assessments.
(c) Within 210 days of this order, the Secretary of Defense shall evaluate and prioritize, consistent with applicable law, the sale of surplus aircraft and parts to bolster wildfire mitigation and response efforts.
Sec. 6. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order should be interpreted as diminishing or affecting:
(i) the authority granted by law to any executive department or agency, or its head; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be executed in compliance with applicable law and subject to available appropriations.
(c) This order does not create any enforceable rights or benefits in law or equity for any individual against the United States, its agencies, or its officials.
(d) The publication costs of this order shall be equally shared by the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior.
DONALD J. TRUMP
THE WHITE HOUSE,
June 12, 2025.
