Whether or not logging would solve the wildfire problem is contentious. Many U.S. forests are considered to be at high wildfire risk, due to climate change and almost a century of wildfire suppression policies that have resulted in overgrown, fire-prone land. Neither are mentioned in the memorandum.

Memos from the Trump administration are increasing pressure to cut more national forests for timber and forest health.

President Donald Trump's administration has rolled back environmental protections around future logging projects on more than half of U.S. national forests under an emergency designation issued Friday that cites the dangers of wildfires.