US Under Secretary of Agriculture Michael Boren reportedly contacted Forest Service officials multiple times to question why more aircraft were not deployed to a wildfire near his Idaho ranch, according to a Washington Post report.
The report raises questions about potential conflicts of interest and the misuse of government resources by a senior official, potentially undermining public trust in the Forest Service's impartiality and resource allocation decisions.
Michael Boren, the US undersecretary of agriculture for natural resources and environment who oversees the US Forest Service, reportedly pressed agency staff last month to deploy more aircraft to a 7-acre fire burning near his Idaho ranch. The Washington Post reported that Boren contacted Forest Service officials multiple times while the Cabin Creek fire was active, questioning the lack of aircraft deployment.
According to the Post's report, six current and former Forest Service officials stated the response was disproportionate to the fire's size and lack of threat to life or property. The newspaper reviewed communications and analyzed flight paths, which it said corroborated Boren's involvement and indicated that at least some aircraft were diverted from other fires.
A spokesperson for the USDA stated that Boren regularly contacts the agencies he oversees and that he reported the fire near his property as any citizen would. The spokesperson denied that Boren pressured leadership or ordered more resources for the fire.