Public Lands in Peril: The Impact of Mass Layoffs on Federal Agencies

Federal agencies responsible for managing public lands and resources were thrown into chaos after thousands of workers were fired. These agencies are crucial for conservation, recreation, and resource development across vast areas of public lands. The firings have left significant gaps in their ability to respond to emergencies, including wildfires, which are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change. The dismissed employees held a variety of important roles, from dispatchers to scientists. These jobs are essential for planning prescribed burns, organizing fire suppression efforts, and protecting landscapes and communities from catastrophic fires. The cuts were not strategic or uniform, highlighting a lack of understanding about the specialized work being done. A letter from the new Department of Agriculture secretary promised support to firefighters, but dismissals continued. The loss of so many key positions will have a significant impact on the agencies' ability to respond to emergencies. A firefighter and dispatcher expressed concern, stating that fires are already beyond human management and that the loss of personnel will make the situation worse. Agency leaders have ordered workers not to share information with the public or the press. However, several employees, including some who were recently fired, spoke out about the widespread reduction in force and its impact on urgent work. The US Forest Service (USFS) was hit hard, losing about 10% of its workforce, or 3, 400 people. Another 2, 300 staffers were fired from the Department of the Interior, which includes the National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management. The firings targeted employees in probationary status, which typically lasts one to two years. Many of those fired had dedicated years to public service and were in good standing when dismissed. Workers whose roles are focused on public safety, including firefighters, were supposed to be exempt, but some essential and supplemental roles were dismissed. Terminating probationary employees who have gone through extensive training will have a devastating impact on agency missions and government operations. Many federal agencies are already severely understaffed due to years of frozen or slashed budgets. Some districts saw whole crews gutted, especially at the USFS, where there was a recent push to convert seasonal jobs into more permanent positions. A USFS specialist familiar with forest-resilience treatments expressed concern about the impact on their ability to complete projects and treat acres. With fewer people overseeing the complicated and delicate work, mistakes are more likely, and litigation risks will rise. The teams were already understaffed and underfunded, and they are now being asked to do even more for less. Several staffers shared fears that this action is part of a broader move toward privatization of US public lands. Some said holes in the work may have to be filled by costly contractors or concessionaires who aren’t dedicated to protecting the landscapes. Others were concerned that the agencies won’t be able to function as they once did, giving weight to arguments that the lands should be turned over to states or sold. The cuts also extend far beyond fire, creating holes on search-and-rescue teams and emergency response crews that have become increasingly crucial as more people pour into parks and forests for recreation. In a now-viral post on Instagram, one ranger who’d lost his job shared that he had been the only EMT on staff at his park. While the drawdown is expected to have resounding effects on agency work, it’s done little to reduce the budget. The government spent $271bn annually compensating civilian federal workers – less than 5% of the federal budget – and about 60% of that total goes to workers employed by the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs. Many of the workers who were let go had been paid low wages, with some barely able to make ends meet; they had been driven to do the work out of dedication. These firings, she added, haven’t just taken jobs from dedicated public servants: “It’s taking away their purpose as well. ” Unions and labor advocates are preparing to go to court, hoping to prove the cuts were illegal. Legislators, meanwhile, have begun calling on the administration to rescind the firings. They highlighted that national forests produce nearly $400, 000 in economic activity for every USFS employee, based on visitation data. This is still expected to be just the first step in several rounds of firings. There has been little response or direction from agency leadership on how departments will move forward. The actions have also exacerbated a culture of fear and confusion that has emanated through the agencies. In district offices the civil rights posters, which are typically hung in breakrooms to educate workers, were removed from the walls in the aftermath of the firings, a sobering sign, staffers said, of where the agencies now stand. A dispatcher expressed concern about the additional stress this will add to an already stressful job. She added a word of caution for the public, who have long taken the work being done on their behalf for granted. “People living in fire-prone areas need to be aware, ” the dispatcher said. “There might not be people to come help you anymore – you are going to be more on your own than you’ve ever been. ”