As I’ve shared with you in the past, one of my priorities as Chief of the Forest Service is to streamline our processes and deliver services to the public. Improving how we manage our fleet is an important part of that effort.

To strengthen our long-term fiscal health, we are implementing plans designed to reduce fleet costs by 20% over the next two years. Our goal is a 10% reduction by the end of FY2026, followed by an additional 10% by the end of FY2027. These reductions are structured to safeguard mission readiness and emergency response capabilities. We will focus first on eliminating fleet assets not specifically used in field operations and emergency response. By rightsizing our portfolio, we anticipate saving approximately $55 million by the end of FY2027, funds that will be redirected toward priority work, including active forest management and recreation.

Over the coming weeks, Fleet program managers will receive specific reduction targets and access to fleet monitoring dashboards. These tools will be available to all line officers to help them understand and manage their fleet portfolio and measure progress toward our goals. We ask that regions and stations review their FAST and non-FAST fleet with a critical eye, identifying assets for disposal based on utilization rates, staffing levels and mission impact. We also encourage you to engage with adjacent units to find creative opportunities for resource sharing.

This effort aligns with the president’s directive to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely and is a commonsense step toward improved stewardship. By optimizing our fleet and balancing mission delivery with cost efficiency, we protect our ability to deliver essential services today and preserve our capacity to serve future generations.

As always, thank you for your willingness to adapt and for all you do in service to the American public.

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