California agencies fought fires on federal land. Now Trump won't pay in full
The US Forest Service audited the reimbursement sent by the state and is withholding $9m, saying they needed more documentation
As California prepares to enter wildfire season, the Trump administration is holding back millions of dollars in requested reimbursement to local fire agencies for battling wildfires on federal lands last year.
After the most destructive and expensive season on record, California issued a $72m reimbursement request for local firefighting efforts on federal lands. Rather than reimburse the local agencies in full, the US forest service audited the agreement that made this exchange possible and is now withholding $9m.
“A local fire department doesn’t budget to go help the US forest service,” said Brian Marshall, fire chief for the state office of emergency services. “You pay it up front, expecting reimbursement. If you don’t get the money, a fire chief’s job could be in jeopardy because then they’re operating in the red and the elected officials start asking the tough questions. And that’s unacceptable.”
According to the forest service, the audit was prompted by a 2017 letter from the director of the state office of emergency services that criticized the forest service’s reimbursement practices.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/may/23/california-agencies-fought-fires-on-federal-land-now-trump-wont-pay-in-full
= new reply since forum marked as read
