From Firefighting to Fire Prevention: What Utility Leaders Need to Know About President Trump’s Wildfire Executive Order

On June 12, 2025, the White House issued the Empowering Commonsense Wildfire Prevention and Response Executive Order — a sweeping directive that redefines how the United States addresses wildfire risk.

It’s now clear that federal policy has shifted from firefighting to fire prevention.

This evolution in strategy has important implications for our nation’s utilities and grid operators. Vegetation management is now part of national policy, and AI and satellite technologies are recognized as foundational tools for wildfire risk mitigation.

Below are some key takeaways for utility executives to consider as they assess their own approaches amid this policy shift.

Wildfire Risk Is Now a Nationwide Concern

Executive Order: “Wildfires threaten every region, yet many local government entities continue to disregard commonsense preventative measures.”

Implication: The Executive Order reflects a growing awareness that wildfire risk is no longer confined to a few regions — it is now a national concern. Utilities operating in regions not traditionally associated with wildfire activity may face new scrutiny or expectations around preparedness. A prevention-first approach to wildfire mitigation is becoming necessary regardless of geography.

Local Land Management is in the Spotlight

Executive Order: “Technology-enabled local strategies for land management and wildfire response and mitigation.”

Implication: The ability to tailor risk mitigation strategies to local conditions may become more important. High-resolution, frequently updated data — particularly from satellites — can support more precise prioritization and faster response in the field.

AI is Gaining Policy-Level Support

Executive Order: Calls for the use of AI to identify wildfire ignitions and improve modeling capabilities.

Implication: AI is now explicitly recognized at the federal level as a tool for wildfire mitigation. For utilities exploring its use in areas such as vegetation health, asset risk, or predictive modeling of wildfire ignition risks, the policy environment appears increasingly supportive.

Improved Forest Health and Year-Round Response Readiness

Executive Order: Promotes “preventing and responding to wildfires, including through year-round response readiness, better forest health.”

Implication: For utilities, this suggests a shift from periodic, calendar-based vegetation programs toward dynamic, condition-based strategies, including an increased focus on brush clearance.

Ongoing, high-frequency monitoring — known as high temporal frequency — is increasingly important. By detecting changes in vegetation health, fuel load, and moisture content in near real time, utilities can intervene earlier and more effectively.

Utilities should evaluate whether their own current strategies support this evolving view of comprehensive, data-informed wildfire mitigation.

Reduced Bureaucracy and Modern Technology

Executive Order: “Firefighters across the country are forced to rely on outdated technology… because of unnecessary regulation and bureaucracy.”

Implication: There is increasing policy emphasis on updating technologies and improving coordination across departments. Expect more data sharing across both industries and departments.

Emphasis on Preventing Wildfires from Utility Infrastructure

Executive Order: Encourages best practices “to reduce the risk of wildfire ignition from the bulk-power system without increasing costs for electric-power end users, including through methods such as vegetation management, the removal of forest-hazardous fuels along transmission lines, improved engineering approaches, and safer operational practices.”

Implication: This highlights a continued focus on preventing utility-related wildfires through a mix of proactive vegetation management, floor-level fuel clearance, asset health monitoring, and operational improvements. As expectations evolve, utility leaders will want to ensure their mitigation strategies reflect both engineering and environmental best practices—while balancing cost and risk.

Satellite Data Will Be More Widely Available

Executive Order: “Make publicly available historical satellite datasets that will advance wildfire prevention and response and improve wildfire prediction and evaluation models.”

Implication: Access to decades of historical satellite data will enhance utilities’ ability to analyze trends in vegetation growth, fuel load, and drought conditions, supporting more informed planning and mitigation strategies. A real game-changer.

Timelines Underscore the Urgency

Executive Order: Multiple directives within the order are accompanied by specific deadlines — some requiring agency action within 90 to 180 days.

Implication: These time-bound mandates add weight to the Executive Order’s guidance. Rather than serving as general policy direction, the inclusion of deadlines indicates that federal agencies are expected to move quickly — and that utilities may see regulatory shifts or new programs sooner than expected.

Summary

The Empowering Common sense Wildfire Prevention and Response Executive Order signals a clear policy shift toward prevention, precision, and proactive land management.

For utility leaders, it offers a timely opportunity to evaluate how their current practices align with national priorities — and how new technologies like AI and satellite data may help address evolving expectations.