That’s my first read. I will get more information.
“The USWFS will unify Interior’s fire bureaus and align operations with the Department of Agriculture through shared procurement, predictive services, research and policy reforms.”
The USFWS and USWFS (both in DOI) won’t be confusing at all…. 😬
“The USWFS will unify Interior’s fire bureaus and align operations with the Department of Agriculture through shared procurement, predictive services, research and policy reforms.”
The USFWS and USWFS (both in DOI) won’t be confusing at all…. 😬
September 16, 2025 at 3:48 AM
That’s my first read. I will get more information.
“The USWFS will unify Interior’s fire bureaus and align operations with the Department of Agriculture through shared procurement, predictive services, research and policy reforms.”
The USFWS and USWFS (both in DOI) won’t be confusing at all…. 😬
“The USWFS will unify Interior’s fire bureaus and align operations with the Department of Agriculture through shared procurement, predictive services, research and policy reforms.”
The USFWS and USWFS (both in DOI) won’t be confusing at all…. 😬
Uswfs setting records for the lowest effort AI logo www.doi.gov/wildlandfire...
Announcing the new U.S. Wildland Fire Service Logo | U.S. Department of the Interior
For generations, wildland firefighters have protected the people, communities, and landscapes we call home. That legacy defines us. Courage, grit, and stewardship shaped over more than a century. Toda...
www.doi.gov
August 28, 2026 at 3:38 PM
Uswfs setting records for the lowest effort AI logo www.doi.gov/wildlandfire...
To be clear, I doubt this tragedy was related to the USWFS reorganization. But we were explicitly told to, ”make the new organization look good” so, there is, uh, that.
July 31, 2026 at 1:03 AM
To be clear, I doubt this tragedy was related to the USWFS reorganization. But we were explicitly told to, ”make the new organization look good” so, there is, uh, that.
Cooking with gas here but maybe put a recreated USAID, at least the bits that used to be BHA, together into the same newly created Agency as FEMA and USWFS. Absolve USAID once and for all of being considered part of State and associate us finally with Agencies that actually do something useful
February 7, 2026 at 1:28 AM
Cooking with gas here but maybe put a recreated USAID, at least the bits that used to be BHA, together into the same newly created Agency as FEMA and USWFS. Absolve USAID once and for all of being considered part of State and associate us finally with Agencies that actually do something useful
Good to see he has some Fed experience, but more importantly, good IMT & ICS quals. We still have very little detail on the USWFS & how things will work, but a good leader can make a huge difference. I hope he has the freedom to set a clear mission & goes about building the org the right way.
December 6, 2025 at 4:45 AM
Good to see he has some Fed experience, but more importantly, good IMT & ICS quals. We still have very little detail on the USWFS & how things will work, but a good leader can make a huge difference. I hope he has the freedom to set a clear mission & goes about building the org the right way.
We're hoping to hear directly from you, as those who know best the impacts of this consolidation, with this input survey. 100% anonymous.
Can consolidation be an opportunity for transformation?
👉 tinyurl.com/USWFS-Survey
#WildlandFirefighter #FederalFirefighter #USWFS #FUSEE
Can consolidation be an opportunity for transformation?
👉 tinyurl.com/USWFS-Survey
#WildlandFirefighter #FederalFirefighter #USWFS #FUSEE
March 10, 2026 at 5:50 PM
We're hoping to hear directly from you, as those who know best the impacts of this consolidation, with this input survey. 100% anonymous.
Can consolidation be an opportunity for transformation?
👉 tinyurl.com/USWFS-Survey
#WildlandFirefighter #FederalFirefighter #USWFS #FUSEE
Can consolidation be an opportunity for transformation?
👉 tinyurl.com/USWFS-Survey
#WildlandFirefighter #FederalFirefighter #USWFS #FUSEE
A virtual townhall meeting for DOI firefighters is happening today to answer questions about the mission & organizational structure of the USWFS.
Since planning for the USWFS has been a top-down, top-secret affair, there are more questions than answers!
www.vox.com/climate/4777...
Since planning for the USWFS has been a top-down, top-secret affair, there are more questions than answers!
www.vox.com/climate/4777...
Trump’s new Wildland Fire Service is failing to ignite
Wildfires are a growing threat. Do we need a new federal agency to help?
www.vox.com
February 5, 2026 at 8:21 PM
A virtual townhall meeting for DOI firefighters is happening today to answer questions about the mission & organizational structure of the USWFS.
Since planning for the USWFS has been a top-down, top-secret affair, there are more questions than answers!
www.vox.com/climate/4777...
Since planning for the USWFS has been a top-down, top-secret affair, there are more questions than answers!
www.vox.com/climate/4777...
Trump's new U.S. Wildland Fire Service is poaching firefighters from other federal agencies. This robs agencies of workers who steward public lands when they are not fighting fires, and it cuts off the USWFS from the federal "fire militia." Dumb move!
www.eenews.net/articles/int...
www.eenews.net/articles/int...
Interior’s new Fire Service could siphon off thousands of BLM staff
A plan under consideration would move thousands of BLM firefighters and some other staff to the Wildland Fire Service created by Interior Secretary Doug
www.eenews.net
January 21, 2026 at 2:01 AM
Trump's new U.S. Wildland Fire Service is poaching firefighters from other federal agencies. This robs agencies of workers who steward public lands when they are not fighting fires, and it cuts off the USWFS from the federal "fire militia." Dumb move!
www.eenews.net/articles/int...
www.eenews.net/articles/int...
Thanks for sharing @opb.org! www.opb.org/article/2026...
As potentially significant season kicks off, the US Wildland Fire Service’s first chief shares priorities
The U.S. Wildland Fire Service (USWFS) was formed earlier this year by consolidating the fire programs of several Department of Interior agencies, including those of the Bureau of Land Management and ...
www.opb.org
May 2, 2026 at 7:50 PM
Thanks for sharing @opb.org! www.opb.org/article/2026...
Good perspective on Trump admin disabling the US Forest Service mailchi.mp/alliancewr/u...
Roles and Responsibilities of the New USWFS
mailchi.mp
April 21, 2026 at 10:46 PM
Good perspective on Trump admin disabling the US Forest Service mailchi.mp/alliancewr/u...
Am I reading this correctly? They plan to combine all DOI fire personnel into a new USWFS agency, and USFS will retain their fire ops? This is confusing. Im also confused as to the legality of it. They can just mk agencies up? What a shitshow!
to.it
September 16, 2025 at 3:40 AM
Am I reading this correctly? They plan to combine all DOI fire personnel into a new USWFS agency, and USFS will retain their fire ops? This is confusing. Im also confused as to the legality of it. They can just mk agencies up? What a shitshow!
can confirm the plane is being built while flying:
-Office of the Secretary claims the move is de minimis and won’t affect operations
-“this reorganization will take place over several phases to be completed at a day to be determined”
-the USWFS absorbed unrelated Natural Resource Staff
-Office of the Secretary claims the move is de minimis and won’t affect operations
-“this reorganization will take place over several phases to be completed at a day to be determined”
-the USWFS absorbed unrelated Natural Resource Staff
Unauthorized shifts to staffing could leave DOI agencies underresourced for critical duties, lawmakers say.
www.govexec.com/management/2...
www.govexec.com/management/2...
Democrats sound alarm on Interior reorg's impact on wildfires, land management
Unauthorized shifts to staffing could leave DOI agencies underresourced for critical duties, lawmakers say.
www.govexec.com
February 19, 2026 at 3:28 PM
can confirm the plane is being built while flying:
-Office of the Secretary claims the move is de minimis and won’t affect operations
-“this reorganization will take place over several phases to be completed at a day to be determined”
-the USWFS absorbed unrelated Natural Resource Staff
-Office of the Secretary claims the move is de minimis and won’t affect operations
-“this reorganization will take place over several phases to be completed at a day to be determined”
-the USWFS absorbed unrelated Natural Resource Staff
Brian Fennessy grew up in the Los Angeles area, and got into wildland fire straight out of high school in the late 1970s. He mostly worked on, and eventually led, interagency hotshot crews — among the fittest and most respected firefighters in the country.
As potentially significant season kicks off, the US Wildland Fire Service’s first chief shares priorities
The U.S. Wildland Fire Service (USWFS) was formed earlier this year by consolidating the fire programs of several Department of Interior agencies, including those of the Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service.
www.opb.org
May 2, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Brian Fennessy grew up in the Los Angeles area, and got into wildland fire straight out of high school in the late 1970s. He mostly worked on, and eventually led, interagency hotshot crews — among the fittest and most respected firefighters in the country.
Correct, the USFS is launching a feasibility analysis to see if it would be possible (thank God, because the last thing we’d need is for that to be rushed 🫠).
So all it means right now is that BLM, NPS, FWS, and BIA firefighters got moved to the new USWFS.
Still unclear where fuels 1/2
So all it means right now is that BLM, NPS, FWS, and BIA firefighters got moved to the new USWFS.
Still unclear where fuels 1/2
January 13, 2026 at 12:49 AM
Correct, the USFS is launching a feasibility analysis to see if it would be possible (thank God, because the last thing we’d need is for that to be rushed 🫠).
So all it means right now is that BLM, NPS, FWS, and BIA firefighters got moved to the new USWFS.
Still unclear where fuels 1/2
So all it means right now is that BLM, NPS, FWS, and BIA firefighters got moved to the new USWFS.
Still unclear where fuels 1/2
Trump signed the FY26 Interior Appropriations bill into law, but Congress explicitly refused to fund his new agency, the US Wildland Fire Service (USWFS).
Regardless, Trump charges ahead with his unfunded mandate in defiance of Congress, robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Will Congress uphold the law?
Regardless, Trump charges ahead with his unfunded mandate in defiance of Congress, robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Will Congress uphold the law?
January 27, 2026 at 10:46 PM
Trump signed the FY26 Interior Appropriations bill into law, but Congress explicitly refused to fund his new agency, the US Wildland Fire Service (USWFS).
Regardless, Trump charges ahead with his unfunded mandate in defiance of Congress, robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Will Congress uphold the law?
Regardless, Trump charges ahead with his unfunded mandate in defiance of Congress, robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Will Congress uphold the law?
Lots of recent news on the just launched U.S. Wildland Fire Service. Did my best to get most of it in one place (with lot of links as always!). www.boisestatepublicradio.org/politics-gov...
The U.S. Wildland Fire Service has officially launched; but Congress has decided not to fund it
The Department of the Interior (DOI) has formally announced the establishment of the U.S. Wildland Fire Service (USWFS), a development that came the same week that the U.S. Congress declined to fund i...
www.boisestatepublicradio.org
January 16, 2026 at 11:40 PM
Lots of recent news on the just launched U.S. Wildland Fire Service. Did my best to get most of it in one place (with lot of links as always!). www.boisestatepublicradio.org/politics-gov...
'Incredible footage captured a colossal “firenado” whirling in SE Oregon on Fri July 31, as wildfires swept across the PNW…
Phillip Sitz told Storyful he was working on the Coleman Creek fire as part of the USWFS when he spotted the massive “fire whirl” in Malheur Co'
www.yahoo.com/news/videos/...
Phillip Sitz told Storyful he was working on the Coleman Creek fire as part of the USWFS when he spotted the massive “fire whirl” in Malheur Co'
www.yahoo.com/news/videos/...
www.yahoo.com
August 4, 2026 at 11:00 AM
'Incredible footage captured a colossal “firenado” whirling in SE Oregon on Fri July 31, as wildfires swept across the PNW…
Phillip Sitz told Storyful he was working on the Coleman Creek fire as part of the USWFS when he spotted the massive “fire whirl” in Malheur Co'
www.yahoo.com/news/videos/...
Phillip Sitz told Storyful he was working on the Coleman Creek fire as part of the USWFS when he spotted the massive “fire whirl” in Malheur Co'
www.yahoo.com/news/videos/...
which begs the question, to whom would this work be contracted out? unlike other areas of gov’t, there isn’t exactly a large population with these skillsets waiting in the wings
i think it’s far more likely the new USWFS (god I hate that acronym) will be expected to pick up the slack
i think it’s far more likely the new USWFS (god I hate that acronym) will be expected to pick up the slack
Similar trend in every GACC. It seems the era of IMTs is quickly waning. There are too many forces antithetical to the current model. What happens next is anyone's guess, but given what we currently know, it would not be surprising to soon see the majority of incident response contracted out.
January 5, 2026 at 12:45 AM
which begs the question, to whom would this work be contracted out? unlike other areas of gov’t, there isn’t exactly a large population with these skillsets waiting in the wings
i think it’s far more likely the new USWFS (god I hate that acronym) will be expected to pick up the slack
i think it’s far more likely the new USWFS (god I hate that acronym) will be expected to pick up the slack
Here's the USWFS feature he spoke to me for. www.boisestatepublicradio.org/politics-gov...
As potentially significant season kicks off, the U.S. Wildland Fire Service’s first chief shares priorities
“Suppression is always going to be there,” Chief Brian Fennessy told the Mountain West News Bureau. “But we're not going to suppress our way out of this situation.”
www.boisestatepublicradio.org
May 4, 2026 at 9:03 PM
Here's the USWFS feature he spoke to me for. www.boisestatepublicradio.org/politics-gov...
Thank you Chief Fennessy for sending the Firefighter Pulse Check to @USWFS staff! ❤️🔥
This questionnaire allows firefighters to share their experience on workplace conditions, physical safety, & mental health. We’re proud to be part of the push to bring this to USWFS staff!
This questionnaire allows firefighters to share their experience on workplace conditions, physical safety, & mental health. We’re proud to be part of the push to bring this to USWFS staff!
May 26, 2026 at 8:12 PM
Thank you Chief Fennessy for sending the Firefighter Pulse Check to @USWFS staff! ❤️🔥
This questionnaire allows firefighters to share their experience on workplace conditions, physical safety, & mental health. We’re proud to be part of the push to bring this to USWFS staff!
This questionnaire allows firefighters to share their experience on workplace conditions, physical safety, & mental health. We’re proud to be part of the push to bring this to USWFS staff!
The Dept. of Interior revealed its fire consolidation schema to create a U.S. Wildland Fire Service headed by a new "Fire Chief."
The mission of the USWFS remains vague, but it centralizes administrative power in the hands of another Trump political appointee.
www.eenews.net/articles/bur...
The mission of the USWFS remains vague, but it centralizes administrative power in the hands of another Trump political appointee.
www.eenews.net/articles/bur...
Burgum rolls out plan for Interior-based wildfire service
The Trump administration aims to streamline firefighting resources across federal lands.
www.eenews.net
September 17, 2025 at 4:10 AM
The Dept. of Interior revealed its fire consolidation schema to create a U.S. Wildland Fire Service headed by a new "Fire Chief."
The mission of the USWFS remains vague, but it centralizes administrative power in the hands of another Trump political appointee.
www.eenews.net/articles/bur...
The mission of the USWFS remains vague, but it centralizes administrative power in the hands of another Trump political appointee.
www.eenews.net/articles/bur...
This lightning ignited at least one new fire adjacent to the South Line Fire yesterday. The USWFS used strategic firing to protect oil & gas, bringing it up to at least 5,500 acres. It’s still very active this morning and already producing pyrocu, so another round of fire-induced storms are likely.
August 9, 2026 at 12:13 PM
This lightning ignited at least one new fire adjacent to the South Line Fire yesterday. The USWFS used strategic firing to protect oil & gas, bringing it up to at least 5,500 acres. It’s still very active this morning and already producing pyrocu, so another round of fire-induced storms are likely.
I think it could get faster. Below are comments from USWFS Chief Brian Fennessy, a cancer survivor and early advocate for the NFR. If you are a current or former firefighter, please take a little time and join me and thousands of others. We owe it to ourselves, we owe it to each other. nfr.cdc.gov
May 22, 2026 at 3:42 PM
I think it could get faster. Below are comments from USWFS Chief Brian Fennessy, a cancer survivor and early advocate for the NFR. If you are a current or former firefighter, please take a little time and join me and thousands of others. We owe it to ourselves, we owe it to each other. nfr.cdc.gov
Sheehy has also drafted an emergency order for the President to immediately make changes to the current wildland fire system, including consolidating all fire response under USDOI – Wildland Fire Service (USWFS).
August 14, 2026 at 3:22 AM
Sheehy has also drafted an emergency order for the President to immediately make changes to the current wildland fire system, including consolidating all fire response under USDOI – Wildland Fire Service (USWFS).
Dem leaders of key House and Senate committees state their strong opposition to Trump's U.S. Wildland Fire Service.
drive.google.com/file/d/1L2qc...
This seems to be more than another performative "strongly worded letter." But what are the consequences for the Admin's non-reply?
drive.google.com/file/d/1L2qc...
This seems to be more than another performative "strongly worded letter." But what are the consequences for the Admin's non-reply?
2/18/26 Congress USWFS letter to DOI Secretary
drive.google.com
February 20, 2026 at 12:56 AM
Dem leaders of key House and Senate committees state their strong opposition to Trump's U.S. Wildland Fire Service.
drive.google.com/file/d/1L2qc...
This seems to be more than another performative "strongly worded letter." But what are the consequences for the Admin's non-reply?
drive.google.com/file/d/1L2qc...
This seems to be more than another performative "strongly worded letter." But what are the consequences for the Admin's non-reply?