Wildfire, Broken Promises, and Reconciliation

This week on The Wild Line, we’re tracking three major stories shaping the future of public lands and the communities that depend on them.

Wildfire reform or just smoke

The White House issued a new executive order aimed at “commonsense” wildfire prevention and response. But how much does it actually change? We hear from retired Forest Supervisor Bill Avey, who helps unpack what’s symbolic and what’s substantive, especially in light of a far more consequential bill in Congress. 

“They picked the busiest 90 days they could pick to drop this on people. We’re heading into what looks like an above-average fire year, and the order gives agency leadership 90 days to figure it out—right in the middle of peak season.”
— Bill Avey

The Fit for Purpose Wildfire Readiness Act, introduced by Senators Tim Sheehy of Montana and Alex Padilla of California, would create a new National Wildland Firefighting Service and shift major funds away from the already strained Forest Service budget. Sheehy, notably, started a private wildland firefighting company that holds significant government contracts, but did step down as CEO when he was sworn in as Senator in January.

“Unfortunately, we cannot suppress our way out of the fire situation we’re in today. Climate change has taken that option off the table. The Fit for Purpose Act would strip the Forest Service—the agency with the most firefighting capacity—and shift that responsibility to Interior, which has far fewer resources and less operational experience. It’s a step backward, and it ignores what really matters: fire mitigation.”
— Bill Avey

Broken promises in the Columbia Basin

Last week, the Trump administration withdrew from a hard-won salmon restoration agreement in the Columbia River Basin, an accord years in the making between federal agencies, states, and 15 Northwest tribes. The move abandons investments in renewable energy, restoration, and tribal co-management, drawing sharp condemnation from tribal leaders. We share a powerful statement from Nez Perce Chairman Shannon Wheeler, who warns that salmon extinction is happening now, and that breaking trust with tribes has real consequences.

Nez Perce Tribe Official Statement on Trump Decision to Withdraw from Resilient Columbia Basin Agreement

“This action tries to hide from the truth. The Nez Perce Tribe holds a duty to speak the truth for the salmon, and the truth is that extinction of salmon populations is happening now,” stated Shannon Wheeler, Chairman of the Nez Perce Tribe. “People across the Northwest know this,and people across the Nation have supported us in a vision for preventing salmon extinction that would at the same time create a stronger and better future for the Northwest. This remains the shared vision of the states of Washington and Oregon, and the Yakama, Umatilla, Warm Springs and Nez Perce tribes, as set out in our Columbia Basin Restoration Initiative. It is a vision we believe is supported, publicly or privately, by most people in the Northwest. And it is a vision underlaid by the treaties of our Northwest tribes, by the U.S. Constitution that protects those treaties, and by the federal statutes enacted by Congress to protect salmon and other species from extinction.”

The public land sell-off, revealed

As the Senate continues its budget reconciliation process, a clearer picture is emerging of what’s at stake. Senator Mike Lee’s push to liquidate public lands—up to 3.2 million acres—isn’t just a headline. It’s a concrete threat buried in committee markups and obscure language. Aubrey Bertram, staff attorney and federal policy director at Wild Montana joins us to explain how the deal is unfolding and what it means for the future of America’s public estate.

“What came out of Senate ENR isn’t just about selling off land—it’s packed with aggressive giveaways to fossil fuel companies. One provision would force quarterly lease sales, no matter the actual suitability of the land. Another rolls back royalty rates to 1920 levels. It’s not about energy security or revenue—it’s about letting private corporations control public land for private gain.”
— Aubrey Bertram, Wild Montana

Also, an analysis by The Wilderness Society shows the bill also sets the stage for one of the largest public land sell-offs in modern history. It would require the sale of at least 2 million acres of public land, while making 258 million acres across the West eligible for disposal. The Wilderness Society has also created an interactive map showing which places could be affected.

Read Lee’s provision here. 

Rapid Assessment of Senate Land Sell-Off Proposal

The Getches-Wilkinson Center has released a white paper analyzing a sweeping Senate proposal that would mandate the sale of federal public lands through the expedited budget reconciliation process, with little to no public input.

If enacted, the proposal could put more than 250 million acres at risk, with over 3 million acres potentially privatized within just five years. The sell-off would threaten rural drinking water, tribal cultural sites, recreational access, wildlife habitat, and key ecosystem services that support local economies.

The plan represents a sharp break from longstanding public land laws, including the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), which prioritizes multiple use, sustained yield, and public benefit. Instead, this proposal would waive those protections and redirect land sale proceeds to fund federal operations and offset tax cuts—not conservation.

Read the full memo from the Getches-Wilkinson Center and follow ongoing updates:
https://www.colorado.edu/center/gwc/publications/research-and-publications

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Next Week on The Wild Idea:

Tuesday, June 24th –  Legal scholar Monte Mills and public lands policy expert Martin Nie join us to explore what tribal co-management really looks like—on paper, in practice, and in policy. They break down the legal foundations, share hard-won lessons from the field, and explain why true shared stewardship requires more than just consultation. It’s a thoughtful conversation about sovereignty, trust, and the future of public lands when Indigenous leadership is centered, not sidelined.

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