As Catholics across the United States prepare for the Advent and Christmas seasons, a new federal initiative seeks to ease financial burdens on families while also supporting responsible care for America’s forests.
The Department of the Interior, under President Donald Trump and Secretary Doug Burgum, has announced what it calls a “holiday affordability effort” designed to reduce the cost of Christmas trees and firewood during the 2025–2026 winter season, according to Fox News.
At the heart of the plan is the “one dollar, one tree” initiative, which lowers Christmas tree permit fees to just $1. A Department of the Interior official told Fox News that both Christmas tree and firewood permit fees will be reduced to “$1 per tree or cord,” noting that with the current average price of a real Christmas tree at $90 and a cord of firewood at $300, the policy “could help save American families at least $400 during the holiday season,” according to the outlet.
For many Catholic families—especially those living in rural or economically stressed communities—these savings may offer real relief, helping households maintain cherished traditions such as gathering around a Christmas tree or warming their homes with natural firewood during colder months.
Beyond cost savings, the policy also touches on environmental stewardship, an important theme in Catholic social teaching. The Department of the Interior says the plan will expand access to cutting areas in “overstocked woodlands,” particularly near communities, tribal regions, rural counties, and military bases. According to Fox News, the department believes this will help promote forest thinning and reduce “hazardous fuel” buildup—an issue that has contributed to severe wildfire risk across the West.
A September study by the House Committee on Natural Resources found that roughly 117 million acres of federal land face high or very high wildfire danger, worsened by “overstocked forests with hazardous dry fuels accumulated from decades of fire suppression,” according to the Fox News report.
The department is also increasing household limits to “up to 10 cords of firewood and three Christmas trees,” with the possibility of lifting those caps entirely in areas with especially abundant resources, according to Fox News. Federal officials forecast that the combined savings initiatives could reduce holiday expenses for American families by at least $10 million nationwide.
For Burgum, the program reflects what he sees as the administration’s commitment to both family life and affordability. “American families deserve real relief and savings during the holidays, and at Interior, we are making certain that they can heat their homes while keeping their traditions alive,” he said in a statement to Fox News. He added that “the One Dollar, One Tree initiative is a powerful example of how our public lands can deliver lasting benefits for the American people,” concluding, “Under President Trump, we are making Christmas affordable again.”
Catholics who emphasize responsible care for creation may also take interest in the program’s ecological implications. By encouraging selective cutting in overburdened forests, the plan aims to support a healthier balance within natural ecosystems while reducing the danger of catastrophic fires that threaten homes, wildlife, and entire communities.
As state offices prepare to issue updated site information and coordinate with local organizations, according to Fox News, the initiative may offer families a unique opportunity to engage more directly with the natural beauty of public lands during the Advent and Christmas seasons—while also practicing good stewardship and preserving traditions that bring loved ones together in faith and celebration.
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