The United States Forest Service (USFS), within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, plays a pivotal role in the federal government’s efforts to combat wildfires across the nation. Responsible for managing and protecting 193 million acres of national forests and grasslands, USFS is at the forefront of both wildfire suppression and mitigation.

Over the last decade, USFS has had dozens of budget line items or program areas that directly support wildfire activities, with total annual spending between $3.2 and $7.3 billion. This is in addition to dozens of other line items that indirectly contribute to wildfire management, primarily through forest health.