Federal Cuts Leave Wildfire Crews Understaffed Ahead of Fire Season

• May 09, 2025

A shortage of federal wildland firefighting staff is raising alarms in Washington and Oregon as fire season nears.

Forest and fire officials from both states say recent budget cuts and federal staffing changes have made it difficult to prepare for what could be a severe wildfire season. The most urgent concern is the lack of communication from federal agencies, according to Washington State Forester George Geissler.

Speaking at a press conference hosted by Senators Patty Murray of Washington and Jeff Merkley of Oregon, Geissler warned that coordination between local, state, and federal firefighting units is essential but currently missing. “This is the time when we make certain that we have the aviation we need, the personnel we need, and that all of our systems are ready,” he said. “Without knowing what our partners are doing, we’re missing a critical part of the response system.”

The workforce reduction began in February when the Trump administration, through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), initiated spending cuts that affected multiple federal agencies. Around 1,000 National Park Service employees were laid off, many of whom played support roles in wildfire management. Although a court ruling and public pressure led to the rehiring of some staff, Senators and fire officials say it’s not enough—especially with experienced personnel already gone.

“You just let a whole bunch of frontline people go,” said Sen. Murray. “We’re hearing that they’ll hire people again, but that doesn’t undo the damage.”

A Department of Interior spokesperson claimed funding isn’t at risk and said pay is being increased for federal and tribal wildland firefighters nationwide. However, they didn’t provide full rehiring numbers. Reports from individual forests indicate losses across multiple areas: 35 workers at Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie, 46 at Okanagan-Wenatchee, 21 at Colville, and 15 at Gifford-Pinchot, among others.

Fire Chief Leonard Johnson of the McLane Black Fire Department emphasized that heavy equipment and aircraft are useless without trained firefighters. “We rely on that workforce—not just locally, but statewide and federally. People are the most critical component in this effort.”

Sen. Merkley pointed out that Trump’s proposed budget also cuts forest and watershed management programs and eliminates restoration efforts. He said these cuts come on top of earlier retirements and layoffs that already thinned the ranks.

Many of those affected aren’t official firefighters but hold “Red Cards,” which certify them for frontline fire support. Sen. Murray noted that about three-quarters of Forest Service employees have wildland firefighting training, even if they serve in other roles like trail maintenance or environmental analysis.

“These workers provide crucial surge capacity during a crisis,” Murray said. “We’re sounding the alarm because the risks are too high to ignore.”