US Forest Service and National Park Service Lay Off Thousands Amid Budget Cuts

The U.S. Forest Service is laying off 3,400 recent hires, and the National Park Service is terminating 1,000 employees under President Donald Trump's federal spending cuts, according to sources. These cuts impact staff overseeing landmarks like Yellowstone, the Appalachian Trail, and the Martin Luther King Jr. birthplace.

The layoffs, targeting probationary employees, represent about 10% of the Forest Service and 5% of the Park Service workforce. However, firefighters, law enforcement officers, and meteorologists are exempt from the Forest Service cuts, according to Matthew Brossard of the National Federation of Federal Employees.

The National Park Service, under a hiring freeze, will retain 5,000 seasonal workers but proceed with 1,000 terminations. The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) warned that these cuts would severely impact park operations. NPCA President Theresa Pierno stressed that seasonal hires are vital but large-scale reductions would harm parks and communities.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which manages the Forest Service, emphasized the importance of maintaining public safety roles, including wildland firefighters.

Approximately 280,000 of the 2.3 million federal employees were hired within the last two years, many still in their probationary period, making them more vulnerable to termination.

National parks attract around 325 million visitors annually, while national forests serve 159 million users. Despite the layoffs, the USDA affirmed its commitment to protecting communities, infrastructure, and public resources.