Over the last five years, over $14 billion has been appropriated to the National Fire Plan (NFP). During this time of large federal deficits and increasing pressure to re-examine federal budget priorities, the question must be asked whether these taxpayer dollars have promoted safer communities and more resilient ecosystems. Suppression costs have skyrocketed of late, with the Forest Service's fire suppression costs exceeding $1 billion in five of the last seven years. These escalating costs threaten to consume the Forest Service's entire discretionary budget.