The Trump administration has halted funding for federal programs to reduce wildfire risk in Western states and has frozen hiring of seasonal firefighters, as part of broad cuts to government spending,

Uncertainty over funding and hiring stemming from the president’s executive orders has limited wildfire training and postponed work to reduce flammable vegetation. It has also led some firefighters to leave the force,

The federal firefighting force is facing uncertainty with fire season just around the corner and the Los Angeles fires barely in the rearview mirror.

President Trump’s hiring freeze is affecting 18,000 federal firefighters from reporting to work, including coming to Southern California.