Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte says he’s disappointed not to have been invited to Wednesday’s White House meeting on western wildfires, as a historic heatwave amps up fire conditions.
The meeting included eight Western governors, including six Democrats and two Republicans.
Three uninvited Republican governors, Gianforte, Idaho’s Brad Little and Doug Ducey of Arizona, said they were disappointed not to have been included. A Gianforte spokesperson confirms he was not invited and that the White House has not explained why.
A letter to Biden penned by Gianforte and Little says Montana and Idaho face a harsh fire season. It read in part, “It is critical to engage governors fully and directly to have a productive discussion about how the federal government can improve its wildfire response and prevention efforts.”
A White House spokesperson told the Associated Press the invited governors represented “a cross-section of states impacted by wildfires,” and that Biden will continue to work with governors from both parties on the issue. According to a report from the Idaho Statesman, Republicans Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon were invited.
The Biden administration says it’s hiring more federal firefighters — and immediately raising their pay — as a record-shattering heatwave amplifies the effects of severe drought across the west.
