In a major legislative milestone for freshman U.S. Senator Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), President Donald J. Trump on Friday signed into law the Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act, Sheehy’s bipartisan bill to expand and modernize the federal government’s aerial wildfire suppression capabilities. The signing ceremony took place in the Oval Office, where President Trump also issued a new executive order aimed at confronting the growing wildfire crisis across the country.
“Eliminating bureaucratic obstacles to fight wildfires more quickly and aggressively is America First common sense, and I am honored to have President Trump sign my first bill into law,” said Sen. Sheehy. “We can now better support the brave first responders on the front lines. As we enter the bulk of fire season during what has already been the worst year for wildfire on record, I’m grateful President Trump is taking decisive action to ensure we can respond better, faster, and stronger to wildland fires across the country.”
The Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act, which Sheehy introduced in January alongside Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), passed the Senate unanimously in April and cleared the House earlier this month. It aims to bolster the federal aerial firefighting fleet, reduce red tape, and improve coordination between federal and state firefighting agencies.
The new law is expected to significantly improve the nation’s ability to respond to increasingly frequent and severe wildfires, especially in Western states like Montana. It authorizes new aircraft acquisitions, improves contracting processes for private firefighting operators, and mandates faster deployment of aerial assets during high-risk fire conditions.
Senator Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL and wildfire aviation business owner, is the first freshman senator in the 119th Congress to have a bill signed into law. Since taking office, he has led or co-sponsored over 15 bills focused on reforming the federal wildfire response.
In addition to the legislation, President Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to streamline wildfire prevention efforts, expedite hazardous fuels reduction, and prioritize upgrades to the nation’s firefighting infrastructure.
“President Trump is delivering our federal wildland firefighting apparatus the tools needed to ensure a robust response to these disasters and better protect American families from catastrophic wildfire,” Sheehy said.
The executive order follows a letter led by Sheehy last month, signed by 16 Senate and House Republicans, urging the administration to take urgent action as the nation heads into peak fire season.
With record-setting fire activity already affecting parts of the country, today’s actions signal a strong bipartisan effort to address one of the nation’s most pressing environmental and public safety threats.