Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray, of Washington state, said the federal government shutdown “puts peoples’ lives at risk” by delaying forest restoration and wildland firefighter training programs, in a joint letter with 10 other Democratic senators sent to President Donald Trump on Monday.
The senators pressed him to reopen the government, which has been partially shut down for weeks, as President Trump and Democrats remain at an impasse over funding for his border wall and security proposal.
“We write to urge you to cease the ongoing government shutdown and allow our nation’s forestry professionals and firefighters to continue forest restoration work and training certifications in advance of the coming fire season,” the senators wrote.