URGENT: Here is what they aren’t telling us about the “Fix Our Forests Act” or FOFA -And what we can do about it.

In February, EPIC released an Action Alert asking for help urging the Senate to vote down the Fix Our Forest Act (FOFA) that the U.S. House of Representatives passed in January. We want to reaffirm that FOFA claims to address wildfire risk, but it weakens environmental protections, fast-tracks harmful logging, and limits public oversight. It prioritizes industry interests over science-based solutions and community resilience. The bill is making its way to the Senate THIS WEEK.

Here’s a recap of why we opposed FOFA:

Logging > Safety

Despite scientific evidence that logging can worsen wildfire risk, FOFA forces the Forest Service to prioritize timber quotas over community safety. Internal agency emails call wildfire mitigation a “barrier” to increasing timber sales. Staff are pressured to cut big, fire-resistant trees to meet these mandated logging targets.

Leaves Communities Vulnerable

FOFA ignores proven fire safety tactics like defensible space and home hardening, replacing them with vague, underfunded programs that offer little real protection. No amount of logging on federal land will protect homes from wind-driven embers that can travel miles ahead of a fire. Real wildfire resilience starts at the home and community level—not deep in the forest. 

Shuts Out Community Input

FOFA declares broad “emergencies” to bypass any environmental reviews, allowing massive projects without analysis or public input. It also allows information like where,  and how much of the forest is being logged.  Removing this transparency, FOFA makes it impossible to hold agencies accountable for putting logging interests ahead of public safety and environmental protection.

Delays the Endangered Species Act (ESA) And National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) consultations

FOFA allows for an “emergency determination” of a 390 square mile area (a size never been done before) in response to a situation that may require immediate response - a wildfire, for example. Under NEPA, this means that agencies would not have to analyze or disclose information to the public about their actions until after the fact. 

It also erodes the Endangered Species Act (ESA) by exempting the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management from their obligation to reassess environmental impacts when new species are listed, new critical habitats are designated, or emerging science reveals greater threats to at-risk species. Eliminating this safeguard could push more species toward irreversible decline.

The bill has passed the House and will soon head to the Senate for a vote THIS WEEK. We need your voice now. Click Here to send a message to your California senators urging them to oppose this anti-science, anti-accountability legislation.

If you haven't already, please take one last step by making a call to your Senator. Call the Senate switchboard to be directed to your Senator: 202-221-3121. All you have to say is,

"Hello, my name is [Your Name], and I'm a constituent from [Your City/State]. I'm calling to urge the Senator to oppose the' Fix Our Forests Act. ' This bill weakens environmental protections, jeopardizes wildlife safeguards, silences public input, and promotes harmful logging and grazing—without addressing wildfire risks. Please ask the Senator to vote NO on this destructive bill. Thank you."