The Ending Major Borderland Environmental Ruin from Wildfires (EMBER) Act establishes a federally funded program to manage vegetation and reduce wildfire risk on federal lands along the U.S.-Mexico border. The bill authorizes $3.66 million annually from 2026 through 2032 for the Interior Department to conduct fuel reduction activities, remove invasive species, and install fuel breaks near the border, with the goal of both reducing catastrophic wildfires and improving border security visibility. The legislation also requires federal agencies to develop policies within 90 days to mitigate environmental damage and prevent fires on federal borderlands, and mandates reports to Congress documenting incidents of environmental degradation and wildfires linked to illegal border crossings, including cleanup costs and resources needed for mitigation. The program terminates after seven years, and the bill requires coordination among federal agencies, Border Patrol, and state and local law enforcement.
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