(We share this post with gratitude to our partners at Washington Trails Association whose action alert we've borrowed from significantly.)
On Feb. 13, the Trump Administration began the termination of approximately 1,000 National Park Service and 3,400 U.S. Forest Service employees across the country. This is the second reduction in staffing the Forest Service has faced in the past six months on top of years of declining funding. This move is short-sighted, unsustainable, and leaves our public lands unsafe and under-resourced as outdoor recreation continues to grow in popularity.
The real people who have lost their livelihoods
The people who were fired are not nameless individuals — these are hard-working neighbors in our communities who maintain our trails, campgrounds, day-use, and wilderness areas. They are friends and colleagues who Oregon Trails Coalition and trails stewardship partners around the state have worked closely with over the years. Many of them have worked at the Forest Service for more than a decade. They were not inexperienced or low performers, which is how their terminations were relayed to them. Most had recently moved into new positions due to their expertise and ability to provide crucial services to our public lands.
Last week’s round of layoffs cut hundreds of employees in Region 6 of the Forest Service, which includes Washington and Oregon. We're still learning about some of the specifics about those cuts in forests and parks across the state.
The impact to public lands, recreation and towns who depend on the recreation economy
The vast majority of Forest Service staff affected by these cuts are essential to keeping our trails safe and accessible. Trail lovers rely on their work every single day. They build and maintain trails, manage campgrounds, clean facilities, assist visitors, issue permits, support search and rescue operations, respond to emergencies, and so much more.
Eliminating these roles will directly impact the quality and accessibility of outdoor recreation. Entire wilderness and trail crews are now gone. Many of these people work on wildfire crews during the height of the wildfire season. The loss of these individuals will be felt for years to come.
About 1/4 of the State of Oregon is National Forest land. These cuts mean that many of the trails in Oregon will not be cleared or maintained in the year ahead — or even longer.
More than 80% of Oregonians report using local trails Over half of Oregon residents (53%) report traveling to walk or hike on non-local trails.* Effects of this decision will be far-reaching and will have a significant impact on our state’s $16 billion outdoor recreation economy.
At stake: everything from partner trail work to hiker safety
Many stewardship organizations across Oregon partner regularly with the Forest Service to complete the maintenance that’s needed to keep trails safe and accessible, contributing more than 50% of annual trail maintenance. But trail work accomplished by volunteers and paid youth crews is also under threat. Gone are many of the Forest Service staff needed to coordinate and approve our trail work projects.
We've also seen pauses to Challenge Cost Share Agreements with stewardship partnership groups across the state threatening trail non-profit staff positions as well.
The harm this causes to public lands and trails will be immediately felt by all kinds of trail users and will get increasingly worse as time goes on.
These cuts are ill-conceived, irresponsible, and potentially catastrophic for our trails and public lands.
Email your Congress People today urging Congress to reverse this rash and dangerous decision and ensure the Forest Service and National Park Service have the staffing and funding support they need to serve the people who are out experiencing our public lands. Make it personal . Tell them how USFS staff have positively impacted your experience as a trail user or stewardship partner on federal lands.
Join us in speaking up and taking care of our public lands and each other.
*Data from Oregon Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan.
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