United States: The US Forest Service is set to lay off approximately 3,400 employees, while the National Park Service (NPS) will remove around 1,000 workers as part of the Trump administration’s push to cut federal spending and bureaucracy.
The cuts primarily target employees within their probationary employment periods—those hired less than a year ago—and will impact major sites including Yellowstone National Park, the Appalachian Trail, the Sequoia National Forest, and the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park. Firefighters, law enforcement personnel, certain meteorologists, and 5,000 seasonal workers are exempt from the layoffs.
The reductions represent approximately 10 percent of the Forest Service workforce and 5 percent of NPS employees, raising concerns about the impact on park operations. Theresa Pierno, president of the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), warned that the staffing cuts could have “devastating consequences for parks and communities.” The NPCA noted that national park visits surged to 325 million in 2023, a 13 million increase from the previous year, further weakening limited resources.
Kristen Brengel, NPCA’s senior vice-president of government affairs, cautioned that visitors desiring a high-quality experience may encounter “overflowing trash, uncleaned bathrooms, and fewer rangers to provide guidance.”
A broader federal funding freeze has also disrupted wildfire prevention initiatives in the western United States. Programmes desired at reducing wildfire risks in high-risk areas—including California, Oregon, and Idaho—have been stalled, affecting agreements with associations such as the Oregon-based Lomakatsi Restoration Project.
The hiring freeze has also affected seasonal firefighters, raising concerns among advocacy groups. Grassroots Wildland Firefighters, an organisation supporting federal firefighters, reported problems in hiring the hundreds of seasonal firefighters typically brought on ahead of the summer wildfire season.
Senate Democrats have suggested the administration release fire mitigation funding and exempt seasonal firefighters from the hiring freeze. Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture, which overlooks the Forest Service, reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding communities, infrastructure, and public safety.
The funding deductions come just weeks after record-breaking wildfires devastated parts of Los Angeles, underscoring the urgent need for fire-prevention efforts.
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