The Trump administration’s early decisions have significantly undermined the U.S. Forest Service’s ability to manage lands effectively and reduce wildfire risks. In a shocking move, the administration fired 3,400 Forest Service employees shortly after taking office, representing about 10 percent of the workforce. This drastic reduction, coupled with a freeze on funding aimed at clearing hazardous vegetation, has raised alarm among federal employees and experts regarding the increased vulnerability to devastating wildfires. As conditions worsen due to climate change, these actions jeopardize ongoing wildfire prevention projects, ultimately costing more in disaster response.
Despite being in office for less than a month, the Trump administration has already made the United States more exposed to catastrophic wildfires in ways that will be difficult to reverse.
The job cuts, which amount to roughly 10 percent of the agency's work force, could hobble the Forest Service, which was already struggling to remove vegetation across its vast land holdings at a pace that matches the growing threat from fires.
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