USDA Prepares for 2026 Wildfire Season with Enhanced Readiness and Coordination
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), under the leadership of Secretary Brooke L. Rollins, has issued a new Secretarial Memorandum to enhance national wildfire readiness for the 2026 fire season. This directive aims to accelerate community-focused risk reduction and strengthen firefighter health and safety. The USDA is prepared to mobilize over 28,000 wildfire responders and more than 22,000 contracted resources. The memorandum builds on President Trump's directives to streamline federal wildfire prevention and response, emphasizing full qualification readiness, surge staffing capacity, and streamlined contracting support for wildland fire operations. The USDA also manages the majority of the federal firefighting aviation fleet, including helicopters and airtankers, ensuring a coordinated approach with federal, state, tribal, and local partners.