Military surplus aircraft now available for wildfire response through 2035

What it does

This bill extends the Department of Defense's authority to sell surplus military aircraft and parts to wildfire suppression agencies through 2035, and expands the program to include water-dropping capabilities alongside fire retardant. The primary beneficiaries are state and local wildfire agencies that gain access to additional aircraft resources at reduced cost.

Why we flagged it

The bill's core function is extending DoD authority to transfer surplus military aircraft to state/local wildfire agencies, a straightforward public-safety reauthorization with a 10-year extension.

What the text implies

• Expansion to 'water' alongside fire retardant may enable broader aerial suppression tactics, potentially increasing operational scope beyond traditional fire retardant drops.
• 10-year extension (through 2035) locks in DoD aircraft availability for wildfire agencies, creating long-term dependency on military surplus rather than incentivizing dedicated civilian aerial firefighting procurement.
• No explicit cost-sharing or reimbursement mechanism stated in available text; unclear whether recipient agencies pay fair-market value or receive aircraft at steep discount, creating potential subsidy to state/local budgets.

Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.

Who it affects

Ordinary citizens benefit from expanded wildfire suppression capacity at lower cost to government (DoD surplus aircraft rather than new procurement), improving emergency response to wildfires that threaten lives and property. The bill imposes no new restrictions on citizen rights or remedies.

Who stands to gain

• state and local wildfire suppression agencies
• Department of Defense (reduces disposal costs for surplus aircraft)

Named in the bill

Department of Defense, Wildfire Suppression Aircraft Transfer Act of 1996, Public Law 104-307, 10 U.S.C. 2576, state and local wildfire agencies

Where it stands

8 cosponsors: 5 Democrats, 3 Republicans.

• Jan 21, 2025 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in Senate”
• Jan 21, 2025 — Referred to Senate Committee on Armed Services · Congress.gov: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services”
• Apr 8, 2025 — Reported out of committee · Congress.gov: “Senate Committee on Armed Services discharged by Unanimous Consent”
• Apr 8, 2025 — Passed the Senate · Congress.gov: “Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S2480)”
• Jun 3, 2025 — Passed both chambers · Congress.gov: “On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2390)”
• Jun 3, 2025 — Floor vote scheduled · Congress.gov: “Mr. Comer moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill”
• Jun 10, 2025 — Sent to president · Congress.gov: “Presented to President”
• Jun 12, 2025 — Signed into law · Congress.gov: “Became Public Law No: 119-18”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.

Money around this bill

7 lobbying clients named this bill on 12 disclosure filings across 2 quarters, Dec 2025 to Jun 2026. Those filings disclosed $4,145,000 in lobbying spend. A filing names 6 bills on average, so that figure is what each filing reported, not a share belonging to this bill.

More lobbying clients named this bill than 86% of bills with at least one filing.

Tim Sheehy, the sponsor, reported $398,825 in PAC receipts in the 2026 cycle.

• American Property Casualty Insurance Association — $3,540,000 on 2 filings
• Capitol Counsel, LLC on Behalf of Perimeter Solutions — $180,000 on 2 filings
• Perimeter Solutions — $180,000 on 2 filings
• Prime Minute, Inc. — $120,000 on 2 filings
• Capitol Counsel, LLC on Behalf of Prime Minute, Inc. — $90,000 on 2 filings

Lobbying Disclosure Act filings through Jul 22, 2026. A filing shows who paid to lobby on a bill it names, not what changed.