The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service is investing $200 million in 58 projects through the Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program, as announced by Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins. This funding, mandated by Congress, aims to help at-risk communities plan for and reduce wildfire risk, protecting homes, businesses, and infrastructure. The program emphasizes empowering local foresters and communities to implement practical, science-based management strategies to ensure forest health and resilience while safeguarding rural prosperity.
Secretary Rollins highlighted the importance of community-driven action, stating that protecting forests and communities requires collaboration and direct support for those most familiar with local landscapes. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz added that the grants enable immediate and coordinated measures to reduce wildfire risks in communities that already have plans in place.
The selected projects span 22 states and two tribal communities, focusing on developing or updating community wildfire protection plans and carrying out projects to remove hazardous vegetation that can fuel fires. Over the next five years, the program will invest a total of $1 billion to assist at-risk communities, including tribal nations, nonprofit organizations, state forestry agencies, and Alaska Native Corporations, on lands not managed by federal agencies. A fourth round of funding will be announced later this year.
The Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program is part of the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy, which aims to maintain resilient landscapes, create fire-adapted communities, and ensure effective wildfire response. Proposals undergo a competitive selection process that involves review panels composed of state forestry agencies, tribal representatives, and other partners, prioritizing communities that are at high wildfire risk, have faced severe disasters, and are classified as low income.
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