Forest Service may not hire any summer help 2025.
Not sure who has been following this.
The US Forest Service has sent a letter to all Regions and subunits not to hire any non-fire seasonal help for 2025.
This would apply to campground maintenance, trail work, wildlife crews, and fisheries. Firefighters can be hired (Maybe. The firefighter pay and work issues are another ongoing problem, and internet rumblings of a firefighter work action like a mass sick call-in).
The preliminary budget in Congress (not yet passed, but the proposed amount is already set) will not be enough to cover salaries of seasonal workers. Probably not enough to cover the permanent staff, but laying them off is more problematic.
The agency has been running a deficit this year. Appropriated budgets from Congress have not kept up with inflation.
How this will affect National Forest campground availability next summer is unknown at this time. Some may close completely, or all may forgo services like trash pickup and restroom cleaning. Trails won't be cleared of winter tree blowdowns, and road maintenance will be iffy. Staff at Visitor Centers will be sharply curtailed and hours reduced.
