Jeff Merkley — Jul 28, 2026

← Findings

On Jul. 28, 2026, Sen. Merkley and Sen. Wyden sent a letter to FEMA Acting Administrator Robert Fenton and Region 10 Administrator Vincent Maykovich demanding answers on FMAG denials for Oregon's largest active fires. Oregon is in a dire wildfire situation — the worst in the nation — with 86 active fires burning over 1 million acres and more than 33,000 Oregonians under evacuation as of July 27. Merkley and Wyden pressed FEMA on denials of Fire Management Assistance Grants for the East Evans Creek Fire and Rowe Creek Fire Complex despite Level 3 evacuations surpassing historical residence thresholds. They wrote that withholding FMAG resources until a fire becomes a major disaster is "a major shift in administrative policy" contrary to FEMA's own manual.

Codes

• Disaster Mention yes — Oregon 2026 wildfire season / Rowe Creek + East Evans Creek.
• Climate Connection no — No climate framing.
• Mentioned Republican Obstruction of Climate Action partial — Challenges Trump-admin FEMA criteria shift on FMAG denials.