Introduction
The 2018 proposed budget, “America First” creates a 108 billion dollar deficit between Defense and Non-Defense spending. Overseeing 193 million acres of land within the United States, the USFS is tasked with the protection of national lands and watersheds, making its funding vital to the protection of both natural habitats and public water supply. The defunding of the USFS can have drastic detrimental effects on both the global climate and quality of life throughout the United States.
Overview
According to President Trump’s proposed 2018 budget, America First, there will be a 20.7% reduction from the Department of Agriculture, from the 2017 budget of $22.6 billion to $17.9 billion in 2018. This budget will supposedly fund wild-land preparedness and suppression activities with $2.4 billion in accordance with the ten-year average ensuring the protection of USFS lands. However, this average was created before the extreme increases in temperature along with a longer and more present wildfire season. A reduction in funding designated for low priority programs including land acquisition, instead focusing it’s funding on maintaining current land. Specifically, the Huffington Post reports that the USFS will be hit with a $300 million reduction to wildfire programs, an additional $50 million to wildfire prevention, and 23% reduction for volunteer fire departments.
Current Situation
The National Interagency Coordination Center Incident Management Situation Report states that as of October 15th there are 42 active wildfires, 14 un-contained, with 35 in California and 11 un-contained. The YTD total fires are 51,126, which burned 8,591,956 acres compared to 2008 with 59,928 fires and 3,124,993 scorched acres. USDA reports that fire suppression efforts require a larger budget as the climate warms, and as more houses are built in the natural/urban areas. The Union of Concerned Scientists created an info graphic showing that from 1980-1989 the average number of large wildfires was 140, and from 2000-2012 the average number is 250 with snowpack’s melting 4 weeks before their annual average. This directly correlates with a longer, more intense fire season. Therefore, the ten-year average that the current USFS budget is based upon is no longer relevant to the constantly changing climate.
Pro/Con
The pro’s of defunding the USFS include: relieving national security concerns, increasing the defense budget, and fulfilling President Trump’s campaign promises. However, the drawbacks include: a demobilized USFS, lack of training for wild-land firefighters resulting in higher mortality rates, and the depletion of jobs within the USFS.
Bibliography
Donald, Trump. America First: A Budget Blueprint to Make America Great Again. Washington, Office of Management and Budget, 2017. Print.
National Interagency Fire Center. National Interagency Coordination Center Incident Management Situation Report. National Interagency Fire Center, 10.15.17. Web.
O’Connor, Lydia. As California Burns, Trump’s Proposed Cuts To Forest Service Loom. Huffington Post, 07.10.17. Web.
Union of Concerned Scientists. Western Wildfires and Climate Change. Union of Concerned Scientists, 2017. Web.
Vose, James. Effects of Climatic Variability and Change on Forest Ecosystems: A Comprehensive Science Synthesis for the U.S. Forest Sector. United States Forest Service, 2012. Print
By: Benjamin Green