Late last week, the Senate released its version of the “Fix Our Forests Act” (FOFA)—a deeply concerning bill that would bolster a recent White House order to increase logging in our national forests. We were deeply disappointed to see California Senator Alex Padilla listed as a co-sponsor.
Rather than offering meaningful solutions to protect our communities from wildfire, the bills dismantle critical bedrock environmental laws, limit community engagement, and opens the door to widespread logging across national forests.
Both the House and Senate versions feature the same deeply flawed provisions that have drawn strong, widespread opposition from environmental groups nationwide. ForestWatch, along with John Muir Project and Wild Heritage, led an NGO Letter opposing “Fix” Our Forests Act” directed at Members of Congress and the Administration.
The Senate version of FOFA was released just days after President Trump issued an Executive Order fast tracking domestic logging. Alongside, USDA Secretary Rollins issued a Secretarial Memo establishing an “Emergency Situation Determination” to implement the order to increase logging in all national forests by 25%. This in combination with FOFA drastically exacerbates the exploitation of our public lands and our local forests.
As an attempt to appease legislators who usually vote for the environment, the Senate version of FOFA includes S.453 Wildfire Intelligence Collaboration and Coordination Act of 2025, sponsored by Senator Padilla (D-CA). This section of the bill aims to establish a National Wildfire Intelligence Center to enhance federal coordination and improve wildfire response. The Center would improve emergency planning, such as enhancing evacuation plans, power shut-off strategies, and fire response. It would study, plan, coordinate and implement response strategies. Additionally, the Center would serve as a facilitation center for information sharing between federal, state, and local departments. While this provision has merit, it does not justify the inclusion of the broader, harmful sections of the bill.
Effective wildfire mitigation starts with home hardening and maintaining defensible space around structures, but it’s strongest when paired with community wide preparedness and coordinated emergency response efforts.
There are good pieces of legislation in the House that make a significant difference in helping communities become better prepared for wildfire events. Rep. Huffman’s Community Protection and Wildfire Resilience Act prioritizes effective, science base wildfire mitigation strategies working from the community outward. The bill funds and empowers communities to develop and implement new Community Protection and Wildfire Resilience Plans in collaboration with community members, first responders and relevant state agencies—offering a real path forward for wildfire preparedness.
We are urging California’s other Senator, Senator Schiff, to vote for our forests and communities with a “NO” vote on FOFA.
Click here to let your Senators know you do not support this bill.