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Local officials and farmers in Napa County are speaking out after the Trump administration eliminated a federal grant program designed to help the region combat wildfires. The program, totaling around $50 million in potential investment, aimed to support wildfire mitigation and protection efforts across the county.

“This was about a $50 million investment in total for the county of Napa,” said one local official. “All focused on really mitigating large-scale wildfires in our community.”

The funding had been part of a larger initiative intended to reduce fire risk in rural and high-risk areas of California, particularly as the state continues to face record-breaking wildfire seasons. The decision to cut the grant was made by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which labeled the program “wasteful and ineffective.”

But Napa County leaders argue the program was essential, especially for maintaining defensible space around farmland, upgrading emergency infrastructure, and supporting rural fire districts.

Without the grant, many of these projects now face uncertainty. Local farmers, already hit hard by drought and rising costs, say losing this support makes it more difficult to prepare for what’s expected to be another dangerous fire season.

Critics of the administration’s move say it undermines long-term prevention strategies and shifts the focus away from proactive risk reduction. “It’s short-sighted,” one community member said. “Every dollar we invest in prevention saves far more in emergency response and recovery.”

As climate change continues to increase the intensity and frequency of wildfires, communities like Napa may be left searching for alternative resources to protect lives, land, and livelihoods.

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Trump Administration Cuts Wildfire Prevention Grant in Napa County