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Trump’s cuts to federal wildfire crews could have ‘scary’ consequences

States, tribes and fire chiefs are preparing for a fire season with minimal federal support.

BY ALEX BROWN Stateline
Posted 2/28/25

President Donald Trump’s moves to slash the federal workforce have gutted the ranks of wildland firefighters and support personnel, fire professionals warn, leaving communities to face deadly consequences when big blazes arrive this summer.

“There’s going to be firefighters that die because of this, there will be communities that burn,” said Steve Gutierrez, a union official who served 15 years as a firefighter with the U.S. Forest Service.

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