Bend, OR – Oregon Governor Tina Kotek recently had productive conversations with members of President Donald Trump’s cabinet during a trip to Washington, D.C. last week, addressing two critical issues impacting the Pacific Northwest: wildfire funding and the staffing of the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA).
Kotek, attending the National Governors Association meeting, met with key cabinet members including Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Energy Secretary Chris Wright. The governor expressed optimism that these discussions could lead to tangible solutions for Oregon and other western states facing uncertainty regarding federal support.
In particular, Kotek highlighted the ongoing challenges surrounding federal wildfire grants. These grants, vital for wildfire preparedness, had been paused under the Trump administration as payments approved under former President Joe Biden underwent review. With wildfire season fast approaching, Kotek stressed the urgency of resuming the funding to ensure that Oregon can maintain its fire prevention efforts.
“We have some folks who are already ready and hired up to do fuel removal on the landscape to prepare for the fire season,” Kotek said during a press conference in Salem. “Those grants need to go forward. I got assurance that they are reviewing those.”
The governor had already called a special session of the Oregon Legislature in December to secure $218 million for the 2024 wildfire season, but with federal reimbursements often delayed, Kotek emphasized the importance of consistent and timely federal funding for wildfire efforts.
In addition to wildfire funding, Kotek also raised concerns over staffing cuts at the BPA, which plays a crucial role in maintaining the Northwest’s power grid. The BPA operates 75% of the region’s grid, relying on electricity generated from its 31 dams. However, the Trump administration’s push to reduce the size of the federal government has led to job reductions at the agency, sparking fears about the potential for more frequent power outages.
“We need to make sure that we have trained, experienced people to maintain the grid that BPA runs,” Kotek noted. “It’s important for the entire Pacific Northwest.” She directly appealed to Energy Secretary Chris Wright to look into the staffing situation at BPA.
While Kotek expressed satisfaction with her individual discussions, she was less enthusiastic about a meeting later in the day with President Trump. The meeting, which included a tense exchange between Trump and Maine Governor Janet Mills, saw the president threaten to pull federal funding from Maine unless the state banned transgender women and girls from competing in girls’ sports.
Reflecting on the encounter, Kotek said, “We were having very constructive conversations and then we walked into the meeting and listened to President Trump for more than an hour.” She added that she was “extremely disappointed” by Trump’s remarks and felt they undermined the positive tone of the day.
Despite this, Kotek remains hopeful that her conversations in D.C. will lead to progress on both wildfire funding and BPA staffing, issues that will continue to shape the Pacific Northwest’s future in the coming months.
