Lawmakers Advocate for Strengthening Wildland Fire Response from USDA

The Forest Service, a federal agency responsible for managing national forests and grasslands, is currently facing a shortage of employees for wildfire duty. This shortage, according to recent reports, could be a result of the department's workforce reductions and terminations of probationary workers.

Sens. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and John Curtis (R-Utah) have sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, urging the Forest Service to ensure it has enough "red card" employees as fire season progresses. Red card employees are workers whose main jobs aren't in firefighting but have certifications to assist.

The workforce reductions at the Forest Service were mainly through deferred resignations encouraged by the Agriculture Department. Around 1,400 red-carded employees were lost due to these reductions. Some workers terminated earlier in the year were later rehired after legal challenges. However, no relevant information was found about any red-card workers who were selected for labor reductions but were later rehired due to legal concerns.

The Agriculture Department's actions earlier in the year, including the termination of probationary workers, may have exacerbated the workforce reductions at the Forest Service. The department's current employee shortage for wildfire duty could potentially be addressed by rehiring some of the workers terminated earlier in the year.

The Forest Service's need for "red card" employees is further complicated by the department's actions earlier in the year. The current struggle to fill gaps left by workforce reductions includes the impact of the department's terminations of probationary workers.

The letter sent to the Forest Service in response to its current struggle to fill gaps left by workforce reductions emphasises the importance of maintaining a sufficient number of "red card" employees for wildfire duty. The senators stressed the need to ensure the safety and effectiveness of wildfire response efforts during the upcoming fire season.

As the fire season approaches, it is crucial for the Forest Service to address its workforce shortage to effectively manage and respond to potential wildfires. The senators' letter serves as a call to action, urging the Forest Service to take immediate steps to increase the number of "red card" employees and ensure the safety of communities and natural resources in the face of wildfire threats.