Forest Service to hire no summer help 2025?

[dave54]

Not sure who has been following this.

The US Forest Service has sent a letter to all Regions and subunits not to hire any non-fire seasonal help for 2025. This would apply to campground maintenance, trail work, wildlife crews, and fisheries. Firefighters can be hired (Maybe. The firefighter pay and work issues are another ongoing problem, and internet rumblings of a firefighter work action like a mass sick call-in).

The preliminary budget in Congress (not yet passed, but the proposed amount is already set) will not be enough to cover salaries of seasonal workers. Probably not enough to cover the permanent staff, but laying them off is more problematic. The agency has been running a deficit this year. Appropriated budgets from Congress have not kept up with inflation.

How this will affect National Forest campground availability next summer is unknown at this time. Some may close completely, or all may forgo services like trash pickup and restroom cleaning. Trails won't be cleared of winter tree blowdowns, and road maintenance will be iffy. Staff at Visitor Centers will be sharply curtailed and hours reduced.

 

[Ray-IN]

Uncleared trails will be closed/off-limits to visitors due to insurance and safety issues. Bummer.

 

[John From Detroit]

Alas this is a political issue.. One that DIRECTL AFFECTS US but still a political issue.
And that generally causes arguments..... I remember when the parties still worked together on things like this..

 

[Onyrlef]

Not sure who has been following this.

The US Forest Service has sent a letter to all Regions and subunits not to hire any non-fire seasonal help for 2025. This would apply to campground maintenance, trail work, wildlife crews, and fisheries. Firefighters can be hired (Maybe. The firefighter pay and work issues are another ongoing problem, and internet rumblings of a firefighter work action like a mass sick call-in).

The preliminary budget in Congress (not yet passed, but the proposed amount is already set) will not be enough to cover salaries of seasonal workers. Probably not enough to cover the permanent staff, but laying them off is more problematic. The agency has been running a deficit this year. Appropriated budgets from Congress have not kept up with inflation.

How this will affect National Forest campground availability next summer is unknown at this time. Some may close completely, or all may forgo services like trash pickup and restroom cleaning. Trails won't be cleared of winter tree blowdowns, and road maintenance will be iffy. Staff at Visitor Centers will be sharply curtailed and hours reduced.

The condition of COE campgrounds in Texas and Oklahoma is a national disgrace. No money to staff and maintain the parks.

 

[Oldgator73]

The condition of COE campgrounds in Texas and Oklahoma is a national disgrace. No money to staff and maintain the parks.

Aren’t the COE campgrounds maintained with DoD funds?

 

[Onyrlef]

Aren’t the COE campgrounds maintained with DoD funds?

All COE civil projects are funded in the Water Deveopment Appropriations Act.

 

[jackiemac]

We spoke to a camp host and he said of the 26 people employed locally only 1 was out and about, the others were at a desk job. He was actually doing rounds on a dirt bike trying to keep the local backroads open. He took a saw with him and was cutting back bushes and even sawing trees that had fallen across the roads. He said if he wasn't doing that they would just close the roads and probably not reopen them. Sad.