Exclusive Workforce

The Trump administration paid these employees not to work for more than a year. It just called them back

Some employees sidelined for their diversity and inclusion jobs received a one year, stress-ridden sabbatical, but are now returning to similar jobs.

Management

Tribal leaders bash USDA's plan to relocate thousands of staff and shutter offices

Agriculture's reorganization would create inconveniences and damage relationships the tribal governments have worked hard to establish, they told the department.

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.

Management

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.

Management

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.

Management

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.

Management

USDA received overwhelmingly negative feedback on its reorg plan from employees, lawmakers and local 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.

Workforce

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 Management

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.

Exclusive Workforce

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.

Management

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.

Workforce

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.