Sen. Tim Sheehy, a Montana Republican, proposed eliminating the U.S. Forest Service's airworthiness inspections for firefighting aircraft the same month an inspector discovered a crack in a wing of an aircraft from his former company, Bridger Aerospace, according to documents and sources who spoke with ProPublica.

Sheehy founded Bridger Aerospace before running for Congress. The company operates scooper aircraft designed to retrieve water from lakes or oceans and drop it onto wildfires. Since 2021, the Forest Service has paid Bridger more than $235 million for its services, public records show.

The proposal, floated over a year ago, called for expanding private aircraft use while eliminating rigorous federal inspections. At that time, Sheehy owned Bridger stock worth between $13 million and $15 million, according to disclosures.

Forest Service inspectors discovered the cracked wing in April of last year on an aircraft Bridger had presented as ready for service. A former government official with direct knowledge of the inspection told ProPublica it was a significant finding. "It was a big crack," the official said. Aviation experts noted that such findings are rare and potentially catastrophic.

Records obtained by ProPublica under the Freedom of Information Act show Forest Service inspectors have flagged problems with Bridger's aircraft for years, though many documents were heavily redacted by the agency.

What the Left Is Saying

Democratic critics argue Sheehy's proposal represents a clear conflict of interest that could compromise wildfire safety. They note he was pushing to eliminate oversight of his own former company while owning millions in stock.

Environmental and government accountability groups say the Forest Service inspection program exists specifically to prevent catastrophic failures. Paul Markowitz, former national aviation maintenance manager for the Forest Service, said those inspections exist "to keep people alive."

Five current and former Forest Service officials told ProPublica that Bridger Aerospace has resisted agency oversight while presenting aircraft in need of maintenance as ready to fight fires. These officials spoke on condition of anonymity, citing fear of reprisal.

Critics also point to Sheehy's role with the United Aerial Firefighters Association, an industry group he helped found in 2022 and served as a founding board member. The group is now advocating for allowing contractors to develop their own inspection standards rather than relying on federal oversight.

What the Right Is Saying

Sheehy has been open about his frustration with Forest Service inspections, arguing they are unnecessarily burdensome. A spokesperson said he contends Bridger's scoopers require less oversight because they were built specifically to fight fire, unlike other aircraft that were repurposed from other uses.

The senator's office emphasized that Sheehy has moved his assets into blind trusts, stating he "has no conflict of interest." The spokesperson described the Forest Service inspection process as "a relic of a bygone era" and called it "an unnecessary barrier to asset availability."

Conservative supporters argue that streamlining oversight could improve response times during wildfire emergencies. They note that current inspections can delay deploying firefighting assets when communities face immediate threats.

Sheehy's office said the senator "will continue to be adversarial toward anyone protecting a broken status quo that has allowed cities to burn to the ground," framing his position as focused on improving firefighting effectiveness rather than personal benefit.

What the Numbers Show

$235 million: The amount the Forest Service has paid Bridger Aerospace since 2021 for aerial firefighting services, according to public records.

$13-15 million: Estimated value of Sheehy's Bridger stock at the time he proposed eliminating inspections, based on his financial disclosures.

1: Number of failed airworthiness inspections documented in April for a Bridger scooper with a cracked wing, described by officials as "a big crack."

6 years: Length of time Bridger has held federal firefighting contracts since 2020.

0: Number of Bridger aircraft crashes recorded by the National Transportation Safety Board, according to company records.

The Bottom Line

Sheehy's push to eliminate Forest Service airworthiness inspections raises questions about potential conflicts between his legislative positions and his financial interests in aerial firefighting companies. His office maintains he has separated himself from those interests through blind trusts.

The failed inspection in April occurred the same month his proposal surfaced, though the agency redacted many details from released documents. Former Forest Service officials say industry complaints about inspections are common, but Sheehy's position as a senator actively seeking to change oversight rules is unusual.

In June 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing agencies to consolidate wildland fire programs, an idea Sheehy has long supported. That order left existing inspections in place. However, industry groups connected to Sheehy continue advocating for ending federal inspections and allowing contractor self-regulation.

What to watch: Whether any legislation emerges from Sheehy's proposals, how the blind trust arrangement is verified, and whether additional inspection failures at Bridger or other contractors come to light as consolidation discussions continue.