San Juan National Forest and Pagosa Ranger District employees were reportedly among the 3,400 Forest Service employees laid off late last week.
The layoffs were part of the federal workforce reduction being carried out by the Trump administration.
According to a statement put out by Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, at least 90 people in Colorado and 3,400 Forest Service employees were “part of much broader cuts to programs that protect health and safety with no replacement plans to deliver basic services.”
On Feb. 11, President Donald Trump issued an executive order implementing the Department of Government Efficiency and a “workforce optimization initiative.”
That order states, in part, “Agency Heads shall promptly undertake preparations to initiate large-scale reductions in force (RIFs), consistent with applicable law, and to separate from Federal service temporary employees and reemployed annuitants working in areas that will likely be subject to the RIFs. All offices that perform functions not mandated by statute or other law shall be prioritized in the RIFs, including all agency diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives; all agency initiatives, components, or operations that my Administration suspends or closes; and all components and employees performing functions not mandated by statute or other law who are not typically designated as essential during a lapse in appropriations as provided in the Agency Contingency Plans on the Office of Management and Budget website. This subsection 4 shall not apply to functions related to public safety, immigration enforcement, or law enforcement.”
The SUN requested numbers of layoffs within the San Juan National Forest and Pagosa Ranger District, as well as if there are any changes or delays for projects planned on the San Juan National Forest due to the layoffs, but was told by local officials the requests were forwarded to the USFS Washington, D.C., office.
As of press time Wednesday, no responses had been received.
Polis’ Feb. 14 statement notes that, while firefighters were spared from the cuts, other jobs that do important wildfire prevention work such as road maintenance, forest management and watershed restoration were “slashed.”
“It’s reckless endangerment to Coloradans and could increase homeowners insurance costs further for the Trump Administration to take a hammer to those who help protect us against wildfires through watershed protection and forest management, tipping the scale toward more fire danger with potentially devastating consequences. It’s fine if they don’t like how the federal government works today, but risking our health and safety with no replacement is reckless,” Polis said.
Polis is one of several elected officials from Colorado speaking out against the cuts.
Colorado U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper; and U.S. Reps. Joe Neguse, Brittany Pettersen and Jason Crow urged U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins via letter to reinstate the 3,400 employees.
“We write with significant concerns about the decision to fire 3,400 US Forest Service (USFS) employees in accordance with Executive Order 14210: The Department of Government Efficiency ‘Workforce Optimization Initiative,’ and urge you to immediately reinstate them,” wrote the lawmakers. “The USFS is already critically understaffed, and further employee cuts will have real and immediate consequences for Colorado’s economy, rural communities, and wildfire resilience.”
The letter also points out the employees “steward and manage nine national forests and two national grasslands in Colorado, including some of the most visited forests in the country. These public servants not only maintain the health of our headwaters and wildlife habitat but help keep our communities safe by decreasing the risk of wildfire destroying homes and critical infrastructure. They put out campfires, clear trails, clean bathrooms, and manage trailheads. They also help businesses with the permitting process to use Forest Service lands, including grazers, guides, outfitters, ski resorts, and oil, gas and mining operations.”
The letter also suggests the is an “enormous” return on investment for the American people from USFS employees.
“With just 35,000 employees, the USFS manages over 193 million acres of forests and grasslands, or about one employee for every 5,500 acres of land. Using visitation data alone, national forests produce nearly $400,000 in economic activity for every USFS employee. These employees also live in and contribute to many of our country’s most rural communities, keeping downtowns vibrant and critical services intact,” it states.
The letter further outlines the lawmakers’ offices have “heard for years about chronic understaffing at the USFS. Today, the agency’s workforce is nearly 30% less than it was three decades ago. This significant reduction in staff has occurred even as the country’s population grew by over 100 million people, visitation to national forests exploded, and wildfire risk increased drastically.”
The letter also notes the employees entered public service despite low pay and the frequently seasonal nature of the job, as well as limited housing in remote areas where they serve.
“With the rising cost of living across the state, Colorado communities are already challenged with limited USFS staff to confront land management challenges, it states, adding that, combined with the hiring freeze, the staff reductions “will stretch the agency to its breaking point and place an enormous burden on Colorado communities.”
It concludes, “Importantly, Forest Service employees are trusted and dedicated public servants, neighbors, and friends in communities across Colorado. The decision to terminate these employees reveals a complete disregard for the value of these public servants and the roles they fill. The decision will destabilize the agency and the rural communities they serve. Therefore, we urge you to reinstate these employees immediately.”
randi@pagosasun.com
