Federal Hiring Freeze Puts Wildfire Season at Risk
A federal hiring freeze implemented by President Donald Trump has sparked concerns among wildfire professionals, as it directly impacts the recruitment of federal firefighters. This freeze comes at a critical juncture, as fire departments nationwide typically begin hiring thousands of seasonal federal firefighters in preparation for the spring and summer wildfire seasons. Ben McLane, a federal hand crew captain and board member with Grassroots Wildland Firefighters, expressed his concerns, stating, “It’s going to be really bad, really quick.” He emphasized that the lack of personnel will leave the country unprepared for what is anticipated to be another severe fire season.
The Essential Role of Federal Firefighters
Federal firefighters play a crucial role in the nation’s firefighting capability. In 2024, the Department of the Interior employed 5,780 federal wildland fire personnel, while the US Forest Service employed over 11,300. These firefighters are not just local responders; they are called upon to battle fires across the nation and even internationally. According to McLane, the federal government is the only entity that can provide such a rapid and flexible response. However, the hiring freeze has brought the recruitment process to a halt, leaving many positions unfilled just as fire season approaches.
Seasonal Hiring Halted, Firefighting Operations Compromised
Most federal firefighters are seasonal employees, hired either as permanent or temporary workers. Each year, these employees must be rehired before the summer fire season begins. McLane explained that this process has been completely stopped due to the hiring freeze, with no flexibility to restart it later. He warned that the government cannot simply “snap its fingers” and rehire these skilled workers in time for the peak fire season. The consequences are already being felt, with fire trucks in Utah potentially staffed by only two people instead of the usual four or five, and some trucks left unstaffed altogether.
Understaffed and Underpaid: The Plight of Federal Firefighters
The hiring freeze exacerbates an existing problem: many fire departments are already understaffed. In Los Angeles, for example, the fire department has fewer firefighters per capita than almost any other major city, despite the devastating wildfires that have ravaged the region in recent years. Federal firefighters also face challenges due to low pay. Steve Gutierrez, representing federal firefighters and other land management employees for the National Federation of Federal Employees, noted that federal firefighters start at just $15 an hour. He highlighted a bill currently in Congress that aims to raise their pay, emphasizing that these workers “save lives every single day” and deserve fair compensation.
The Human Cost of the Hiring Freeze
The hiring freeze has created uncertainty and anxiety among federal firefighters, who already work in dangerous and high-stress conditions. McLane described the situation as “political theater,” where emergency responders are caught in the middle of policy decisions. The longer the freeze continues, the greater the risk that experienced firefighters will seek jobs elsewhere, taking their skills and training with them. Gutierrez warned that this could result in the loss of “skilled employees that the American taxpayers paid for,” with no way to recoup the investment in their training.
A Call for Action and Clarity
The White House has not yet clarified whether federal firefighters fall under the category of “essential services” that would be exempt from the hiring freeze. McLane and Gutierrez both stressed the need for immediate clarity and action to ensure that wildland firefighters are exempt from the freeze. Without such an exemption, the country risks being unprepared for the upcoming wildfire season, putting lives and property at risk. The federal government must recognize the critical role of these firefighters and take steps to ensure they are adequately staffed, trained, and compensated to face the challenges ahead.
