Sen. Adam Schiff has called on several U.S. agencies to exempt seasonal wildland firefighters from the federal hiring freeze imposed by President Trump’s executive order. This comes after concerns have been raised about the readiness of federal agencies for future wildfires, particularly in light of the recent devastating fires in the Los Angeles area. Schiff’s letter to the Department of Agriculture, Department of the Interior, and Office of Management and Budget urges them to exempt federal firefighters from the freeze and address the impact on hiring and retention of U.S. Forest Service seasonal firefighters.
As of now, wildland firefighters have not been exempt from the hiring freeze, leading to concerns about staffing levels for the upcoming fire season. The U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management hire over 15,000 seasonal firefighters annually, making them essential for public safety in fire-prone areas. Schiff expressed alarm that federal firefighters were not included in the exemption for public safety positions.
The Office of Personnel Management, which can grant exemptions, as well as the OMB and USDA, have not yet responded to Schiff’s letter. The Department of the Interior stated that they are implementing the hiring freeze order but are working to hire key positions related to public safety, including firefighting roles. Overall, there is growing concern about the impact of the hiring freeze on the ability of federal agencies to effectively respond to wildfires and protect communities.
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