Overview

• Over 5,000 U.S. Forest Service employees have quit in the past five months, depleting roughly 15% of the agency’s workforce and leaving key support roles empty.
• Federal data show wildland firefighters have battled nearly 41,000 blazes this year, the highest total since at least 2015 and straining operational capacity.
• Despite USDA and USFS officials asserting that resources and staffing levels are sufficient, current and former personnel warn of persistent shortages in vital support functions.
• The agency met 99% of its target by hiring 11,236 firefighters by late June and USFS Chief Tom Schultz has directed managers to rehire about 1,400 fire-qualified “red-carded” former staff.
• Unfilled support positions have compelled firefighters to handle logistics on incidents such as the Alder Springs Fire, where crews faced food and medical supply shortages.