S. 160 · 119th Congress · Senate
Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act of 2025
Introduced 2025-01-21 · Sponsored by Sen. Sheehy, Tim [R-MT] (R-MT) · Last updated 2026-03-31
Last action (2025-06-12): Became Public Law No: 119-18.
Summary
Lets the Pentagon sell its surplus aircraft and parts for wildfire suppression, extending that authority through 2035. Previously, these planes could only drop fire retardant; now they can also deliver water. It also removes a restriction that prevented the aircraft from being used for international firefighting assistance.
The Good
Expands tools available for fighting wildfires
Reauthorizes the Department of Defense to sell excess aircraft and parts for wildfire suppression and allows military aircraft to deliver water for firefighting. As western wildfires intensify, additional aerial capacity is critical.
The Bad
Military aircraft are not designed for firefighting
Converting military aircraft for aerial firefighting requires significant modification and maintenance. Purpose-built firefighting aircraft may be more cost-effective and safer than adapting military surplus.
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