The Trump administration’s executive orders to shrink the federal workforce have had a significant impact on the nation’s firefighting force, despite making exceptions for public safety staff. The recent cuts, funding freezes, and hiring pauses have weakened the already strained firefighting force, particularly affecting support staff who play crucial roles in preventing and battling blazes.
One of the most significant blows came in mid-February, when about 700 Forest Service employees, who were red-card-carrying staffers, were terminated in what was dubbed the “Valentine’s Day massacre.” These employees, who hold other full-time jobs in the agency, are trained to aid firefighting crews by providing logistical support during blazes and assisting with prescribed burns. The loss of these red-card-carrying employees has been described as a significant blow to the firefighting force, with experts noting that there are not enough primary firefighters to handle high fire seasons.
The cuts have impacted various divisions within the Forest Service, including recreation, wildlife, IT, and more. Employees have expressed concerns that the Trump administration is shifting the agency’s focus away from environmental stewardship and towards industry and firefighting. Despite Trump’s assurances that public safety staff would be protected, the cuts have affected the Forest Service’s firefighting force, which currently numbers over 10,000 personnel.
Hiring has slowed, training programs and prescribed burns have been canceled, and confusion reigns among employees about which job titles can be hired. The Forest Service is struggling to function effectively in the face of these personnel changes. Employees have described the situation as chaotic and expressed concerns that the agency is no longer serving its mission.
The Forest Service did not respond to questions about the impact of the cuts, but it was clarified that around 2,000 probationary employees were terminated in February. However, an independent federal board compelled the Department of Agriculture to reinstate over 5,700 terminated probationary employees for 45 days, including many Forest Service personnel who were put on paid administrative leave with no work.
As the administration and the Department of Government Efficiency continue to push for layoffs, court challenges have been mounted against their actions. The future of the Forest Service’s firefighting force remains uncertain as they navigate these turbulent times. In March, word circulated throughout the Forest Service that departmental leadership had compiled lists containing the names of thousands of additional employees who could soon be laid off. This news has caused concern among workers within the agency, especially as understaffing in the information technology unit is threatening firefighting operations.
According to an agency employee, the branch chief overseeing IT for the agency’s fire and aviation division left the job in December. The Department of Agriculture posted the job opening but removed it the day after Trump’s inauguration. The position remains unfilled, leaving the agency struggling to provide support to the interagency wildland fire community’s technical needs, including overseeing software used by firefighting crews to request equipment from the agency’s warehouses.
The hiring of new firefighters has also been delayed due to conflicting orders from the administration and the Department of Agriculture. Forest Service staffers have reported being behind onboarding new employees, further exacerbating challenges that predate the current administration. The Forest Service paused the hiring of seasonal workers last year, except those working on wildfires, to address a budget shortfall.
Many permanent employees, including firefighters, work on a seasonal basis and are placed on unpaid status for several months each year. The uncertainty within the federal government has led some employees to seek other job opportunities outside of government work. Cuts to the agency’s legal department will also impact its ability to care for the nation’s forests and fight wildfires.
A smaller legal staff could result in fewer prescribed burns and vegetation-removal projects, increasing the risk of catastrophic fires. The agency has faced lawsuits from environmental groups concerned about the impact of these projects. The recent mass firings of probationary employees within the Department of Agriculture have further disrupted operations within the Forest Service.
Despite the reinstatement of some employees following a board ruling that the firings were illegal, the agency is still facing challenges in reissuing equipment and allowing employees to resume their work. The overall impact of these layoffs and cuts to support staff could have serious consequences for the Forest Service’s ability to effectively manage and protect the nation’s forests.
