Trump’s delays in federal funding hurt state

Published 1:30 am Saturday, August 2, 2025

News from the past week has highlighted the challenges faced by state leaders and how the Trump administration is exacerbating those challenges.

The Burdoin Fire along state Highway 14 in the Columbia River Gorge has burned more than 11,000 acres since July 18. It has drawn some 800 firefighters and warranted a visit last week from Gov. Bob Ferguson and Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove.

“The Burdoin is just one of five large fires currently burning on our landscapes right now. We are fully in the heart of wildfire season in Washington, and DNR crews are working alongside our federal and local partners to contain these fires and protect our lands, forests, and communities,” Upthegrove said on Facebook.

By late last week, the fire had destroyed more than 40 structures and damaged dozens of others, according to media reports. Nearly 1,000 residents had been evacuated, and a portion of Highway 14 had been closed for several days.

At the same time, the Trump administration released approximately $20 million for wildfire fighting in Washington that it had been withholding. According to Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., the administration distributed $280 million to various states, which already are in the midst of suppressing blazes that threaten lives and properties.

“The state of Washington is in the middle of an active and dangerous wildfire season,” Cantwell said in a news release. “After questioning the Chief of the Forest Service and the Secretary of Agriculture, I am pleased that Washington — and all states — are finally receiving the funding they need to prepare for and respond to wildfires this summer and in the future.”

The temporary withholding of funds demonstrates the capricious nature of the administration. Under President Donald Trump, the federal government has made a habit of canceling or delaying payments to local jurisdictions — often halting spending approved by Congress.

The administration recently said it would release more than $6 billion in education funding — including $137 million in our state — after delaying the payments for months. During the delay, The Washington Post explained: “Trump’s Office of Management and Budget suggested that it needed to investigate whether any of the money has been used by school districts to fund a ‘radical left-wing agenda.’ “

Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said the funding remains under review and could be released by the end of the year. That provides little solace for districts that are adjusting budgets for the upcoming school year.

As with the wildfire funding, delays have long-lasting costs. State officials say they can fully staff firefighting crews this year without the funding, but the money is needed to train firefighters and provide equipment in sparsely populated areas for future years.

The importance of such funding — both state and federal — is evident at the Burdoin Fire. Upthegrove pointed out that investments in helicopters and the creation of fire lines and fuel breaks around White Salmon have helped limit the damage, noting that future fires are “going to be larger and they’re going to cost the taxpayers a lot more money in the back end.”

As of Monday, the Burdoin Fire reportedly was 54 percent contained. But evacuation notices still were pending, and wildfires in the Gorge and elsewhere in the state still posed a threat. That requires cooperation between state and federal officials, not superficial reasons for delaying funding approved by Congress.