Land Management
USDA is moving forward with various reorgs despite legal questions and bipartisan concerns
“This might be the best idea since sliced bread, I don’t know,” one Republican said.
Interior incentivizes more staff departures after already cutting 20% of its workforce
The department becomes the first to offer a widespread "deferred resignation" this year.
Forest Service to move HQ out of DC, shutter regional offices in sweeping overhaul
Employees react with tears, warn of brain drain and call the changes "a pointless exercise."
Exclusive
The Trump administration paid these employees not to work for more than a year. It just called them back
Some employees sidelined for their diversity and inclusion jobs received a one year, stress-ridden sabbatical, but are now returning to similar jobs.
Tribal leaders bash USDA's plan to relocate thousands of staff and shutter offices
Agriculture's reorganization would create inconveniences and damage relationships the tribal governments have worked hard to establish, they told the department.
Interior renews campaign for employees to snitch on ‘DEI discrimination’ in the department
The refusal to participate in DEI activities is covered by whistleblower protection laws, DOI says.
USDA to offload HQ building as it prepares to consolidate space and relocate staff
The department plans to move employees around the country by the end of the year.
U.S. Forest Service stops issuing firefighter pants that contain PFAS, following ProPublica’s reporting
Officials at the agency knew about the use of potentially dangerous “forever chemicals” in protective gear years before publicly acknowledging the issue, according to emails obtained by ProPublica.
Democrats sound alarm on Interior reorg's impact on wildfires, land management
Unauthorized shifts to staffing could leave DOI agencies underresourced for critical duties, lawmakers say.
Firefighters wore gear containing 'forever chemicals.' The Forest Service knew and stayed silent for years
As early as 2021, government officials were alerted to the presence of potentially dangerous chemicals known as PFAS in pants used by wildland firefighters, according to emails obtained by ProPublica.
Trump administration stands up consolidated federal firefighting agency over bipartisan congressional reservations
Interior says it is only restructuring internally, though it is still working toward Trump's goal of an interagency merger.
USDA received overwhelmingly negative feedback on its reorg plan from employees, lawmakers and local governments
The department solicited comments and those who wrote in said a potential exodus of staff and loss of local interaction would prove harmful to farmers.
Trump is using $70K bonuses for a hiring surge at one agency. Democrats want to stop him
The hiring of hundreds of new officers will allow Trump to centralize his power in Washington, senators say, though administration suggests the effort is boosting safety.
Exclusive
Doug Burgum is charging Interior Department agencies a premium to subsume their employees
The Interior Department's consolidation efforts is coming with a cost to National Parks and other components of the agency.
See where Interior is planning to lay off 2,000 employees
The newly revealed details lay out only a portion of the total expected RIFs.
Trump admin vows to follow court order on layoffs, but some cuts may still be imminent
The Interior Department revealed new details on its planned reductions.
Exclusive
The Interior Department is taking steps to implement layoffs
After a series of delays, DOI is preparing RIF lists as it looks to implement significant personnel cuts in the coming weeks.
Boosting timber harvesting in national forests while cutting public oversight won’t solve America’s wildfire problem
COMMENTARY | The shrinking of the federal forest workforce is among several factors that have more impact on forest fire risk than the time it takes to approve timber harvesting projects.
Amid staffing cuts, Forest Service wants seasonal firefighters to work more hours this year
One employee says the Trump administration is "scared as hell about staffing" as it enters peak wildfire season.
USDA says reorg disfavors layoffs, predicts most employees will accept relocations
A significant percent more than a majority will come" to new locations, Agriculture Department official says.
