Salem, OR – Oregon’s Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives have raised alarms over recent staffing cuts within federal agencies responsible for managing public lands, fearing the consequences could be dire for the state’s upcoming wildfire season.
In a series of letters sent this week, Oregon’s five Democratic House members called on the newly appointed heads of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of the Interior to reverse recent decisions that led to the firing of thousands of federal employees. The USDA oversees the U.S. Forest Service, while the Department of the Interior manages the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the National Park Service. These agencies play a critical role in preventing and responding to wildfires, which have become increasingly frequent and severe due to climate change.
The letters emphasize that the federal government manages over 50% of Oregon’s land, which is primarily overseen by the Forest Service and BLM. Lawmakers argue that the recent staff reductions, coupled with a hiring freeze, could severely hinder the state’s ability to combat wildfires during the peak season.
“The hiring freeze and staffing cuts have harmed the livelihoods of dedicated public servants across our state and will directly undermine public safety,” wrote the lawmakers in a letter to Doug Burgum, Secretary of the Interior, and Brooke Rollins, USDA Chief. “Fewer firefighters and insufficient staffing during fire season exacerbate fire response delays, prevent effective mitigation efforts, and place lives, property, and our environment at greater risk.”
Representative Janelle Bynum led the letter, with support from Representative Andrea Salinas and other members of Oregon’s delegation. A separate letter, signed by 80 Democratic lawmakers, including the Oregon representatives, was sent to Rollins, urging the restoration of fired employees. The group warned that without immediate action, the cuts could have “catastrophic consequences” on wildfire prevention efforts across the country.
The letters follow concerns voiced by Oregon Governor Tina Kotek and other Western governors. Last week, Kotek met with Rollins at the White House during the National Governors Association meeting, where she was reassured that the USDA would reconsider the funding cuts and the impact on seasonal wildfire employees.
“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,” the lawmakers’ letter read. “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.”
Oregon’s wildfires have already caused devastating losses. Last year, wildfires scorched a record 1.9 million acres, while the 2020 Labor Day fires killed nine people and destroyed thousands of homes. Southern California recently suffered its deadliest wildfire season in history, further underscoring the escalating threat of fires in the region.
Despite assurances from federal agencies that no operational firefighters were affected by the layoffs, reports suggest that employees involved in firefighting and fire mitigation roles have been let go. According to news reports, approximately 3,400 people were fired nationwide, with around 2,000 of those from the Forest Service. The agency’s spokesperson clarified that those fired were probationary employees, but concerns remain over the potential loss of critical staff.
With the fire season quickly approaching, the lawmakers urged Rollins and Burgum to restore funding for wildfire mitigation programs and ensure that critical services remain uninterrupted. They also requested detailed information on the fired employees, including their roles and locations, and urged federal agencies to act swiftly to ensure adequate staffing levels.
The cuts to federal agencies and the freeze on wildfire mitigation grants have raised alarms in Oregon and across the West, where fire seasons have become more destructive due to the growing impacts of climate change. As the state braces for another potentially dangerous fire season, the lawmakers and governors are pushing for immediate action to ensure the federal government’s continued support in wildfire prevention and response efforts.
Governor Kotek remains hopeful that federal officials will heed these concerns. “I think it was heard,” she said. “I think they’re going to reassess that. It will be very difficult for us to be ready for the fire season without full partnership from the federal government.”
