A coalition of more than 160 local government leaders is urging state attorneys general across the West to ensure federal land management agencies have the resources and staff to battle wildfires.
The letter sent by the group Mountain Pact was prompted by concerns about deep staffing cutbacks at the Forest Service, National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management that they write are “reducing the capacity of federal land management agencies to plan and execute hazardous fuels reduction projects that lower the risks catastrophic fires pose to our communities.”
Thousands of staffers from those agencies have left since President Donald Trump took office in January, from layoffs and either early retirements or deferred resignation buyout offers. The Trump administration has sought to shrink the federal workforce, but critics note that among the jobs now left vacant are firefighting positions and others involved with forest management.
“We respectfully ask that you review the legality of the actions that have resulted in the erosion of federal wildlife preparedness and, as appropriate, take steps to hold the federal government accountable for fulfilling its responsibilities for protecting life and property,” the letter says. It was signed by local government leaders and sent to the state attorneys general in at least 11 Western states, from Arizona to Washington state.
