Fifteen U.S. senators have warned federal authorities that President Donald Trump's executive order putting a freeze on hiring has halted seasonal firefighter hiring and onboarding.
Addressed to the heads of USDA, the Department of the Interior and the Office of Personnel Management, the letter noted that the Jan. 20 order exempted public safety personnel from the freeze and argued that seasonal firefighters should be a part of that categorical exemption.
It’s easy to be “in the know” about what’s happening in Washington, D.C. Sign up for a FREE month of Agri-Pulse news! Simply click here
The lawmakers, including Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., noted that 2024 saw some 8,300 more wildfires than 2023, with those in 2024 roughly tripling the amount of total acres burned.
“Such fires also no longer stick to a particular season, meaning that we must be prepared 365 days per year to fight fires, putting even more stress and strain on a workforce that desperately needs additional support and higher pay,” the senators wrote.
For more news, go to www.Agri-Pulse.com.
