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Witnesses warn recent firings and hiring freezes could undermine wildfire mitigation work
Summary
Multiple witnesses and senators said recent Forest Service personnel cuts, hiring freezes and deferred resignations are reducing capacity to complete planned fuel-reduction and timber projects, imperiling on-the-ground mitigation this summer.
Several witnesses told the Senate committee the Forest Service’s recent personnel actions — including probationary firings and a hiring freeze — have removed staff who hold firefighting qualifications and do many essential field tasks.
Frank Bim of the National Association of Forest Service Retirees said roughly 3,400 probationary employees were dismissed and that “more than 75 percent of those dismissed employees had wildland fire qualifications.” He described the impact on field capacity and morale: “These indiscriminate…
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