02.26.25

Reps. Huffman, Chu, and Salinas Call on Trump Administration to Reverse U.S. Forest Service Layoffs Amid Growing Wildfire Crisis

Washington, D.C. — House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Jared Huffman (CA-02), Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28), and Rep. Andrea Salinas (OR-06) led 80 House Members in a letter today urging the Trump administration to reverse their decision to fire 3,400 federal workers from the U.S. Forest Service, which manages 193 million acres of public lands. These layoffs are part of a broader effort by President Trump and Elon Musk to dismantle the federal workforce, undermining the ability to respond to urgent crises—from wildfires to climate change—while needlessly upending the livelihoods of tens of thousands of Americans across the country.

“We write to express our deep concern regarding the recent decision to lay off thousands of employees from the U.S. Forest Service and the potentially catastrophic consequences this will have on wildfire prevention efforts across the country. These cuts, compounded by the decision to freeze federal funding for a long list of critical programs and grants, could leave our public lands more vulnerable than ever to the threat of wildfires, which are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change,” wrote the Members to the Trump administration. 

Last month, Southern California experienced its most devastating wildfires in history, with fires consuming 55,082 acres due to unprecedented Santa Ana winds and dry conditions. The Palisades and Eaton Fires alone destroyed over 37,000 acres, claiming at least 28 lives and damaging over 16,240 structures. Unfortunately, these fires are part of a broader trend of increasing wildfire severity. Last year, Oregon saw its worst wildfire season ever, with approximately 2 million acres burned, just four years after the 2020 Labor Day wildfires, which killed 9 people and scorched 1 million acres.

“These tragedies underscore the urgent need for ongoing community risk reduction and wildfire mitigation strategies that the U.S. Forest Service is tasked with carrying out. The recent layoffs at U.S. Forest Service, which reportedly amount to 10 percent of its entire workforce, directly jeopardize this critical work,” the Members continued. “For example, in the weeks before the recent Southern California wildfires began, the agency ordered and positioned multiple hand crews, engines, water tenders, dozers and patrols strategically throughout the Angeles National Forest in preparation for critical fire weather. These resources were essential to Initial Attack on fire starts and the overall response to major fires across the region.”

“The loss of skilled employees, many of whom possess specialized training in modern wildfire prevention techniques, will have lasting effects on the U.S. Forest Service’s ability to respond to the growing threat of wildfires,” the Members continued. “It is particularly concerning that many of those laid off were probationary employees who were actively involved in these critical projects. Their departure, along with the broader staff reductions, leaves the agency dangerously understaffed as we head into another wildfire season.”

The Members therefore requested responses to the following questions regarding how the Trump Administration plans to address these challenges moving forward:

  1. How many U.S. Forest Service employees have been terminated since January 20, 2025, including their job title, reason(s) for termination provided to the employee, their occupational categories as determined by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, and their station of duty; and the USFS region in which their duty station resided? 
  2. What specific steps will your administration take to restore critical wildfire mitigation programs that have been disrupted by these cuts and the freeze on funding?
  3. How do you intend to support the Forest Service and other federal agencies tasked with managing our public lands, especially considering the growing challenges posed by climate change and the escalating risk of catastrophic wildfires?
  4. In light of the recent Southern California wildfires, which demonstrated the urgent need for proactive wildfire risk mitigation, how will your administration prioritize funding for community-based efforts in the coming year?
  5. How will the administration ensure that the billions of dollars allocated in IIJA and IRA for wildfire prevention and firefighter support are fully utilized to protect communities from the growing threat of wildfires?

“We urge you to reconsider these cuts and ensure that the Forest Service and other agencies are fully equipped to handle the growing wildfire crisis. Our nation’s public lands and surrounding communities deserve the attention, resources, and leadership required to safeguard them for future generations,” the Members concluded.

Other signers of the letter include Representatives Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Linda T. Sánchez (CA-38), John Garamendi (CA-08), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Jim Costa (CA-21), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Laura Friedman (CA-30), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Mike Thompson (CA-04), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Brad Sherman (CA-32), Mark Takano (CA-39), Dave Min (CA-47), Eric Swalwell (CA-14), Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-07), Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Donald S. Beyer Jr. (VA-08), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Doris Matsui (CA-07), Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), George Whitesides (CA-27), Luz M. Rivas (CA-29), Ed Case (HI-01), Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Joe Neguse (CO-02), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Derek T. Tran (CA-45), Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-25), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07), Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12), Terri A. Sewell (AL-07), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Greg Stanton (AZ-04), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Jason Crow (CO-06), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Ted W. Lieu (CA-36), Scott H. Peters (CA-50), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Dina Titus (NV-01), Maxine Waters (CA-43), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Gwen S. Moore (WI-04), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Haley M. Stevens (MI-11), J. Louis Correa (CA-46), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), Adam Smith (WA-09), Cleo Fields (LA-06), Rick Larsen (WA), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Mike Levin (CA-49), Sean Casten (IL-06), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Bill Foster (IL-11), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Johnny Olszewski, Jr. (MD-02), Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02), John B. Larson (CT-01), Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08), Steven Horsford (NV-04), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Janelle S. Bynum (OR-05), Teresa Leger Fernandez (NM-03). 

Click here to read the letter.

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