Mass Firings at USFS and USDA Leave WA More Vulnerable to Wildfire Risks, Warns Cantwell in Letter to Agency Heads
Among those swept up in indiscriminate firings of U.S. Forest Service and Department of Agriculture employees were many with wildland firefighting certifications; Cantwell demands further information, reinstatement of fired personnel
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) joined Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Reps. Kim Schrier (D, WA-08), Rick Larsen (D, WA-02), and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D, WA-03) in sending a letter to U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Chief Tom Schultz on the recent firings of hundreds of USDA and USFS employees. The letter requests that Sec. Rollins and Chief Schultz provide details about the Washington state personnel who were fired, including how many held “Red Cards,” which certify individuals for wildland firefighting. Further, it asks for the immediate reinstatement of all fired USDA and USFS personnel.
“Amidst increasingly common extreme weather in the region, now is not the time to gut a workforce charged with wildland firefighting and mitigation for a quarter of the state’s lands. While public safety roles were supposedly exempted, we’re gravely concerned about reports that USFS staff who support wildfire response or mitigation, as well as staff with firefighting certifications that serve in roles with dual purposes, were terminated,” wrote the lawmakers in the letter. “Without dedicated support staff, USFS risks losing critical functions like coordinating resources, managing incident command, and providing medical assistance. This compromises both the safety of those on the frontlines and their ability to defend nearby communities.”
The letter also highlighted the economic contribution that well-managed public lands provide to Washington state. USFS lands in Washington see over 7 million visitors annually, and nearly $1 billion is spent annually in communities around National Forests in the state.
“Recreational activities managed by the USFS play a crucial role in enhancing the well-being of local communities in Washington State, driving economic growth and fostering a deeper connection to the natural environment,” continued Sen. Cantwell and her colleagues. “Outdoor recreation is the largest single use of National Forest lands, and USFS in Washington State maintains nearly 12,000 miles of trails and field over 7 million visits per year. Nearly $1 billion is spent annually in communities around the National Forests in Washington, benefiting local businesses as an economic driver of the region.”
Sen. Cantwell has slammed the Trump Administration’s recent mass firings of civil servants as overbroad, dangerous to the public, and at times illegal.
In January 2025, Sen. Cantwell introduced the Fire Ready Nation Act, bipartisan legislation to strengthen the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) ability to help forecast, prevent, and fight wildfires. Weeks later, in February, when the Trump Administration laid off at least 880 workers from NOAA, Sen. Cantwell railed against the decision. She had earlier sent a letter to Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick urging him to protect NOAA and the National Weather Service’s hiring ability, highlighting their crucial role in wildfire prevention, among other key tasks.
As wildfires in the West become more frequent and intense, Sen. Cantwell has constantly strived to ensure communities have the resources to prevent, prepare for, fight, and recover from major wildfires. In January 2024, Sen. Cantwell co-introduced the Making Aid for Local Disasters Equal Now (MALDEN) Act, a bipartisan proposal to improve coordination between local, state, tribal, and federal agencies to deliver resources faster in the aftermath of disastrous wildfires. The MALDEN Act is named for the town of Malden, WA, which was destroyed by the 2020 Babb Road Fire.
In 2021’s landmark Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Sen. Cantwell secured billions of dollars to support wildfire prevention, response, and recovery.
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