Bennet, Schiff, Wyden Demand Answers from USFS on Stalled Hazardous Fuel Reduction Projects

Dec 11, 2025|Press Releases
Washington, D.C.— Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, California U.S. Senator Adam Schiff, and Oregon U.S. Senator Ron Wyden sent a letter to United States Forest Service (USFS) Chief Tom Schultz demanding information on the number of hazardous fuels projects that have completed environmental reviews pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), but have not yet been implemented – commonly referred to as “shelf stock.”
“Recent reports indicate that the U.S. Forest Service’s (USFS) work to reduce hazardous fuels across the national forest system in Fiscal Year 2025 was down nearly 40% from its previous four-year average. In a letter to Congress on August 6, 2025, you attributed your constrained “capacity to treat additional acres” in part to “significant resource and personnel” needs elsewhere at the agency. Given these issues, and the Trump administration’s reduction of nearly 5,000 USFS staff, we are concerned that the decline in hazardous fuels projects stems from insufficient staffing needed to implement already-approved projects, including for mechanical thinning and prescribed fire,”wrote the lawmakers.
The lawmakers highlight that the Trump Administration has failed to complete hazardous fuels reduction projects at the same pace and scale as in prior years or at the rate needed in their communities.
“As you know, the best measures to protect lives and property from wildfire is preparedness – reducing fire risks before a conflagration ignites,”concluded the lawmakers.
The text of the letter is availableHEREand below.
Dear Chief Schultz:
We write to request information regarding the number of hazardous fuels projects that have completed environmental reviews pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), but have not yet been implemented (also known as “shelf stock”).
Recent reports indicate that the U.S. Forest Service’s (USFS) work to reduce hazardous fuels across the national forest system in Fiscal Year 2025 was down nearly 40% from its previous four-year average. In a letter to Congress on August 6, 2025, you attributed your constrained “capacity to treat additional acres” in part to “significant resource and personnel” needs elsewhere at the agency. Given these issues, and the Trump administration’s reduction of nearly 5,000 USFS staff, we are concerned that the decline in hazardous fuels projects stems from insufficient staffing needed to implement already-approved projects, including for mechanical thinning and prescribed fire.
In order to help us understand why the Trump administration has failed to complete hazardous fuels reduction projects at a pace and scale commensurate with prior years and the clear needs on the ground, we request that you respond to the following inquiries within 30 days:
As you know, the best measures to protect lives and property from wildfire is preparedness – reducing fire risks before a conflagration ignites. We look forward to hearing from you about the hazardous fuels projects ready for implementation and how the USFS plans to implement these projects and speed up efforts to reduce wildfire risk.
Thank you for your consideration of this important matter.
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