H.R. 6618, Wildfire Aerial Response Safety Act

February 6, 2026

Cost Estimate

As ordered reported by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on January 21, 2026

H.R. 6618, Wildfire Aerial Response Safety Act As ordered reported by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on January 21, 2026
By Fiscal Year, Millions of Dollars		2026	2026-2030	2026-2035
Direct Spending (Outlays)		0	0	0
Revenues		0	0	0
Increase or Decrease (-) in the Deficit		0	0	0
Spending Subject to Appropriation (Outlays)		*	*	not estimated
Increases net direct spending in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2036?	No	Statutory pay-as-you-go procedures apply?		No
	No	Mandate Effects
Increases on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2036?	No	Contains intergovernmental mandate?		No
	No	Contains private-sector mandate?		No
* = between zero and $500,000.

H.R. 6618 would require the Federal Aviation Administration, in consultation with the Departments of Agriculture and the Interior, to report to the Congress on how certain drone operations affect efforts to suppress wildfires on federal lands. Based on the cost of similar activities, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 6618 would cost less than $500,000 over the 2026-2030 period. Any related spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.

The CBO staff contacts for this estimate are Aaron Krupkin (for the Federal Aviation Administration) and Lilia Ledezma (for the Departments of Agriculture and the Interior). The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.

Phillip L. Swagel Director, Congressional Budget Office

Phillip L. Swagel

Director, Congressional Budget Office