A new GOP-backed tax and spending law may increase Colorado’s wildfire risks by slashing key forest management funds and encouraging more logging in National Park Service lands, according to a recent analysis from the Center for Economic and Policy Research.
Lead author and climate analyst Matt Sedlar said the law eliminates $450 million in funding for managing non-federally owned forests — a move he warns could have dangerous consequences.
“It removes funding from a competitive grant program called the Landscape Scale Restoration Program,” Sedlar explained. “That program provides money for states, localities, tribal governments, and private landowners to manage their forests.”
The Landscape Scale Restoration Program not only helps reduce wildfire risks, but also supports efforts to protect wildlife habitats, improve watersheds, and control invasive species, insect infestations, and disease.
The Trump administration defended the cuts, arguing they aim to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse. But Sedlar said the long-term impact could be far more costly.
“When you’re talking about cutting 0.01 percent of the budget, and it prevents those types of fires, then what kind of waste are you actually getting rid of?” he asked. “It seems like we’re creating more costs for the American people, and not getting rid of waste.”
Wildfires cost the U.S. between $394 and $893 billion annually, and even Coloradans outside fire zones are seeing higher insurance premiums as a result.
The law also rolls back funding for environmental reviews by the U.S. Forest Service, which the administration claims delay development. Sedlar disagrees, saying the reviews are critical for safe, sustainable planning.
Another concern: the law cancels protections for roadless areas in the National Park system, opening them up to development.
“By rescinding that rule and removing environmental reviews,” Sedlar said, “they’re opening up a lot of areas to development within the National Parks. And research shows that logging actually increases wildfire risk due to leftover debris.”
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Katie is a senior who has been on staff for three years. Her favorite type of stories to write is reviews and features. Katie’s favorite ice cream flavor is strawberry.
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