Like finding coal in your stocking, the holidays have become a season of financial punishment for American families.

The magic of Christmas morning increasingly comes with a January credit card hangover that lingers well into spring. Between inflation-bloated grocery bills and heating costs that rival mortgage payments, the simple joy of gathering around a real Christmas tree has become a luxury many can no longer afford.

This year, authentic Christmas trees are averaging $90 at retail lots—if you can even find one. A cord of firewood to keep the family warm? That’ll be $300, thank you very much. For millions of Americans, these cherished winter traditions have been priced out of reach, replaced by plastic alternatives and space heaters that somehow make the season feel a little less special.

Meanwhile, we’ve grown accustomed to politicians offering nothing but empty platitudes about “feeling our pain” while doing absolutely nothing to ease it. (Remember when helping working families meant more than just tweets?)

But here’s something remarkable that’s actually happening right now, with zero fanfare from the mainstream press: the cost of your Christmas tree this year could be substantially lower, thanks to one great move by the current administration.

President Trump’s Interior Department, led by Secretary Doug Burgum, just slashed permit fees for Christmas trees and firewood on federal lands to $1 per tree or cord—effective immediately through January 31. That’s a potential $400 back in the pockets of American families this holiday season.

The initiative opens up previously restricted cutting areas near communities, military bases, and rural counties, while increasing household limits to three trees and ten cords of firewood. From ‘Bureau of Land Management’:

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.

More Than Just Savings

This isn’t just about cheap trees. By encouraging families to thin overstocked woodlands, the program addresses the 117 million acres of federal land at high risk for catastrophic wildfires. It’s the kind of common-sense governance we used to take for granted—helping families while simultaneously reducing fire hazards that threaten entire communities. The projected $10 million in direct savings to families is real money in real pockets, not some abstract economic theory.

The department will also increase household limits to up to 10 cords of firewood and 3 Christmas trees, with even more flexibility to ditch those limits in areas with a lot of available resources. Officials say this will result in a “meaningful cost savings for families,” and will help clear at-risk federal land. It’s really an ingenious win-win for everyone involved.

Yet somehow, this story isn’t leading the evening news. While media outlets obsess over manufactured controversies and palace intrigue, actual policy that puts hundreds of dollars back in working families’ pockets gets buried. Maybe it doesn’t fit the narrative.

Maybe a president who literally makes Christmas more affordable for struggling Americans isn’t the villain they need him to be.

Look, I’m old enough to remember when government actually solved problems. Instead of performative photo-ops and hollow sympathy (looking at you, previous administration), we have a president who saw expensive holiday traditions pricing out regular families—and simply fixed it.

No congressional gridlock. No years of studies. Just immediate action that helps real people right now, when they need it most. Imagine that: a government that actually governs.

Key Takeaways

• Trump’s Interior Department slashed Christmas tree permits to just $1
• Families can save over $400 on holiday essentials this season
• The program reduces wildfire risk while preserving family traditions
• Media silence on real policy wins reveals their true priorities

Sources: Fox News, Bureau of Land Management