Update: Additional FY26 Trump Budget Request Details - DOI/USWFS

[u/Flat-Suggestion-8373]

Earlier today, DOI released their departmental-level summary for their FY26 budget request: https://www.doi.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2025-06/fy26bibentire-book508060125.pdf. USDA released their summary a few days ago, which was highlighted in an earlier post.

DOI’s summary includes a section for the new “U.S. Wildland Fire Service,” which would replace OWF and be a bureau-level organization within DOI. Overall the request would provide $3.7b in dedicated base funding for the service, which is equivalent to the total of the base funding provided to the the two departments for their individual WFM and haz fuels programs in FY25 ($1.1b for DOI, $2.6 for FS).

Additional details will likely be made available with the release of the account-specific congressional justification books in the coming weeks/months. These materials will give a better idea of what trade offs the Admin. would make to pay for standing up a new agency without providing a significant increase in dedicated funding above baseline levels to do so.

Of course, the normal caveats apply regarding these budget requests being an initial offer of sorts from the Admin., with Congress generally having a final say.

[u/RogerfuRabit]

This is totally a scam to funnel money into various contractors’ pockets, but eh fuck it. Ive tried voting against it. That didnt work. And Im mid-career, so probably stuck on the ride. My guesses about upcoming changes include:

• FS resources will stay put in the short-term (few years), but get rebranded ASAP. Some remote stations will get the ax. Consolidations will occur. New stations will be built.
• There will probably be a demand to roll more.
• More contract resources on campaign fires, with federal overhead (so ops normal, but continuing the trend).
• Feds will retain IA responsibilities.
• More IHCs, way less throw-together T2IA crews.
• What will happen to the smokejumpers?

But… I’ll take some of those changes, if we get some positive developments too:

• Can we get regional guard schools?
• Regional engine academies? Centralized training would free me up to roll more.
• Our own HR?
• How about 7 day coverage most of the year, so I dont have to work my weekends. Having consistent weekends off in the summer, balanced financially by more rolls/year, that could be a nice change.

[u/hack_nasty → u/RogerfuRabit]

Last two bullets I’m in for