President Donald Trump’s administration has delivered a Christmas tree cost-saving measure for millions of Americans in a “holiday affordability effort” announced by the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI).
Why It Matters
Americans up and down the country are struggling with a cost-of-living squeeze, and this so-called “One Dollar, One Tree” scheme promises to provide some welcome financial relief during the traditionally expensive holiday season.
The new policy, administered through the DOI’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM), is expected to deliver nearly $10 million in savings for American families while supporting wildfire prevention and forest health measures across millions of acres of public land.
What To Know
The BLM has announced it is reducing fees for personal-use Christmas tree and firewood permits to $1 per tree or per cord through January 31, 2026.
A DOI official told Fox News that the new initiative could help deliver savings of at least $400 for American families, pointing to the fact that an average 6-to-8-foot Christmas tree costs $90 and the average cost for a cord of wood, depending on region and type of product, is around $300.
According to the Forest Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), if you live near a National Forest, you can purchase a permit to fell your own, wild Christmas tree instead of having to purchase one at retail price.
American families can spend on average between $80 and $100 on Christmas trees, according to the American Christmas Tree Association.
With permits usually costing roughly $5 to $10 per tree, plus a $2.50 reservation fee if you purchase the permit online, felling your own tree can therefore result in a significant saving.
And now, the cost of a permit to chop down a wild Christmas tree has been slashed to just one dollar, “in line with Trump’s mission to lower costs for all Americans,” according to a DOI release.
The department’s BLM is also opening up additional cutting areas in overstocked woodlands, especially near communities, military bases, tribal areas, and rural counties needing greater access.
Households may now collect up to 10 cords of firewood and three Christmas trees, with the possibility of higher limits in areas with sufficient resources.
According to the Forest Service, “most Americans” live within two hours of a National Forest, meaning millions could benefit from the new policy.
What People Are Saying
Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said: “Under President Trump, we are making Christmas affordable again. 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. The ‘One Dollar, One Tree’ initiative is a powerful example of how our public lands can deliver lasting benefits for the American people, making this season brighter and more affordable for all.”
A DOI release added: “These steps are designed to provide immediate price relief and expand opportunities for families to gather their own firewood and Christmas trees, often in places that have not been accessible before.”
The USDA’s Forest Service said: “Cutting a wild Christmas tree not only saves your pocketbook, it also supports forest health and resilience. The permit system helps thin dense stands of Christmas tree-size trees. If left uncut, these small trees can compete for resources and fuel catastrophic wildfires. Cutting Christmas trees allows other trees to grow larger and can open up areas that provide food for wildlife.”
USDA Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz said: “Visiting a national forest to select a tree that will serve as the centerpiece for the holiday season establishes a meaningful connection between the local forest and a family’s story. National forests offer exceptional recreation experiences for local communities to enjoy the outdoors. These experiences create lasting memories that persist through generations.”
What Happens Next
The BLM says expanded cutting areas will relieve pressure on overstocked woodlands, promoting forest thinning and hazardous fuels reduction across millions of acres.
Permits for tree and firewood collection can be purchased online through the BLM’s Forest Product Permit System at forestproducts.blm.gov. This website allows users to select the state and local BLM office, choose products and quantities, and download their permit for immediate use.
