WASHINGTON — Mario Loyola, senior research fellow at the Center for Energy, Climate, and Environment, underscores the importance of implementing proactive forest management practices in response to the ongoing wildfire challenges in Los Angeles County. 

“The ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles County and across California are heartbreaking. Our thoughts are with those affected, and we commend the courage of the first responders. Unfortunately, these fires are the direct result of decades of mismanagement by progressive leaders like Governor Gavin Newsom, who have failed to implement proactive strategies to reduce the risk of catastrophic fires. Furthermore, Newsom's Green New Deal energy policies have worsened the frequency of wildfires, water shortages, and the broader energy crisis in California. 

 

“Active vegetation management, including thinning trees, removing deadwood, and reducing excess fuel, can replace the status quo of fire-dependent management. The damage caused by California’s failure to act proactively is undeniable. But state leaders aren’t solely to blame—the federal government, under President Biden’s U.S. Department of Agriculture, also shares responsibility. 

 

“We saw strong leadership on wildfire management during the Trump administration, and that’s the kind of approach we need now. In 2018, President Donald Trump issued Executive Order 13855 to promote active forest management and reduce wildfire risks. The next Trump administration can build on this foundation by reducing regulatory barriers that delay fuel reduction and encouraging timber sales to help manage forest health. It’s time to embrace responsible, proactive strategies to protect lives, property, and our environment.”