Minnesota lawmakers hear from fired park staff and DNR on local impacts of federal workforce cuts

Senator Houchow convened an informational hearing on March 13 to examine the local effects of recent federal terminations of National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service employees and to hear from affected former employees and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Two former National Park Service employees, Kate Severson and Jessica Loeffler, described personal and program losses after being removed from their positions in mid‑February. Severson, who said she had been the chief of interpretation and education at Voyageurs National Park, told the committee that her firing during a probationary period has disrupted education and visitor programs and could force her to leave International Falls. “The National Park Service system is under attack by the current administration,” she said, and she described the parks’ economic role, citing a 2023 report showing $20,400,000 in visitor spending associated with Voyageurs National Park.

Jessica Loeffler said she was a biological science technician at the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MINRA) and listed conservation…