Forest Service employees who accepted President Donald Trump’s offer to resign will still be allowed to take on wildfire assignments this summer, according to a new agency memo.
The announcement comes as the U.S. barrels toward fire season and as officials around the country worry about the Forest Service’s ability to staff response efforts now that thousands of employees have been fired from or have quit their posts under the Trump administration.
The option to return to fire assignments is targeted at employees who held some wildland-fighting qualifications, known as “red cards.” Interested workers can register for fire assignments through Sept. 30, the expiration date for their administrative leave under the deferred resignation program, according to the memo.
“Many employees enrolled in the Deferred Resignation Program (DRP) expressed willingness to perform critical wildfire operations before their employment term ends,” the memo said. Forest Service and Agriculture Department officials worked to “develop a solution that will allow employees on administrative leave to temporarily return to active service.”
