Land Management
U.S. Forest Service stops issuing firefighter pants that contain PFAS, following ProPublica’s reporting
Officials at the agency knew about the use of potentially dangerous “forever chemicals” in protective gear years before publicly acknowledging the issue, according to emails obtained by ProPublica.
Democrats sound alarm on Interior reorg's impact on wildfires, land management
Unauthorized shifts to staffing could leave DOI agencies underresourced for critical duties, lawmakers say.
Firefighters wore gear containing 'forever chemicals.' The Forest Service knew and stayed silent for years
As early as 2021, government officials were alerted to the presence of potentially dangerous chemicals known as PFAS in pants used by wildland firefighters, according to emails obtained by ProPublica.
Trump administration stands up consolidated federal firefighting agency over bipartisan congressional reservations
Interior says it is only restructuring internally, though it is still working toward Trump's goal of an interagency merger.
USDA received overwhelmingly negative feedback on its reorg plan from employees, lawmakers and locals governments
The department solicited comments and those who wrote in said a potential exodus of staff and loss of local interaction would prove harmful to farmers.
Trump is using $70K bonuses for a hiring surge at one agency. Democrats want to stop him
The hiring of hundreds of new officers will allow Trump to centralize his power in Washington, senators say, though administration suggests the effort is boosting safety.
Exclusive
Doug Burgum is charging Interior Department agencies a premium to subsume their employees
The Interior Department's consolidation efforts is coming with a cost to National Parks and other components of the agency.
See where Interior is planning to lay off 2,000 employees
The newly revealed details lay out only a portion of the total expected RIFs.
Trump admin vows to follow court order on layoffs, but some cuts may still be imminent
The Interior Department revealed new details on its planned reductions.
Exclusive
The Interior Department is taking steps to implement layoffs
After a series of delays, DOI is preparing RIF lists as it looks to implement significant personnel cuts in the coming weeks.
Boosting timber harvesting in national forests while cutting public oversight won’t solve America’s wildfire problem
COMMENTARY | The shrinking of the federal forest workforce is among several factors that have more impact on forest fire risk than the time it takes to approve timber harvesting projects.
Featured eBooks
Amid staffing cuts, Forest Service wants seasonal firefighters to work more hours this year
One employee says the Trump administration is "scared as hell about staffing" as it enters peak wildfire season.
USDA says reorg disfavors layoffs, predicts most employees will accept relocations
A significant percent more than a majority will come" to new locations, Agriculture Department official says.
USDA to relocate thousands of staff outside Washington, consolidate dozens of offices
The Agriculture Department is slashing regional offices and centralizing staff into five new hubs across the country.
Exclusive
USDA asks employees to transfer to 'critical' vacancies, suggests more cuts coming
The administration is asking employees “to help the agency with no guarantee of protection in the future," one staffer says.
Exclusive
‘Censorship:’ See the National Park visitor responses after Trump requested help deleting ‘negative’ signage
The administration asked for help erasing language on park displays that failed to emphasize American grandeur, but visitors have not identified any examples.
Forest chief says losing 5,000 employees won’t impact fire season response. Many federal firefighters disagree
USFS says it’s ready for fire season after asking separated employees to come back, but employees say the losses have been "crippling."
Exclusive
Thousands of layoffs to hit Interior, National Parks imminently
Employees fear diminished capacity after RIFs are tacked on to existing mass exodus.
‘Biohazard’: Forest Service employees warn cuts having devastating, and disgusting, impacts
DOGE is holding up contracts across government and it's affecting everything from firefighting to toilet cleaning.
Interior solicits employees' resumes in preparation for widespread layoffs
A reorganization and consolidation effort is expected to begin within two weeks and employees are already heading for the exits in droves.
