Federal Firefighter Hiring Freeze Raises Concerns Ahead of Wildfire Season

Senator Adam Schiff urges exemptions for seasonal federal firefighters as Trump administration's hiring freeze halts critical onboarding efforts.

President Trump's January 20 executive order implementing a federal hiring freeze has stalled the hiring of thousands of seasonal federal firefighters, despite claims that public safety positions would be exempt.
Senator Adam Schiff has called on federal agencies, including the USDA and Department of the Interior, to exempt wildland firefighters from the freeze, citing risks to California's wildfire preparedness.
The hiring freeze comes as fire-prone areas like Southern California recover from devastating January wildfires that killed 29 people and destroyed nearly 17,000 structures.
Firefighting officials and advocates warn that the freeze could lead to understaffed crews during an anticipated severe wildfire season, with some firefighters considering alternative employment due to uncertainty.
The Department of the Interior and USDA have not clarified whether federal wildland firefighters will be exempt, raising concerns about the readiness of federal firefighting resources.