Undersecretary Presses for Expensive Firefighting Aid Near His Idaho Ranch

Michael Boren, a 64-year-old tech billionaire who serves as the Undersecretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment, used his position to lobby the U.S. Forest Service for a larger aerial response to a wildfire that broke out near his Hell Roaring Ranch in Idaho’s Sawtooth National Recreation Area. According to Forest Service staff, Boren phoned both regional and national operations centers multiple times, urging that more aircraft be dispatched despite agency assessments that the existing resources were sufficient.

The resulting deployment of about nine helicopters, air tankers and tactical planes cost roughly $115,000 in federal money, a level of effort officials say was disproportionate to the fire’s size. The incident occurred amid a national preparedness level of four out of five, with 44 major fires burning across the country. Boren, co-founder of Clearwater Analytics and a noted Republican campaign donor, was confirmed to his role by a 51-47 Senate vote and has a personal net worth estimated between $222 million and $834 million.

He previously described his interactions with the Forest Service as “oppressive” and has a history of disputes with the agency, including constructing a $1.1 million airstrip on protected land without permission. The Agriculture Department defended his conduct as normal contact with overseen agencies, though staff said such direct influence on firefighting tactics is highly unusual.