A top Interior official is urging some of the employees leaving their jobs at the request of the Trump administration to help the department respond to wildfires before they leave federal service.
In a memo sent out earlier this month, acting Assistant Secretary Tyler Hassen asked exiting Interior staff with a firefighting certification — also called a “red card” — to help the agency respond to wildland fires through the end of the year.
The memo emerges as the department, which aims to increase its role in managing fires on public land, contends with a rising number of wildland blazes. Dozens of fires have ignited in Western states this fire season, including the still-burning Dragon Bravo Fire in Grand Canyon National Park that sparked calls for an investigation from Democrats after it destroyed a historic lodge.
Hassen, who joined Interior as part of the Elon Musk-led “Department of Government Efficiency” before becoming the acting assistant secretary for policy, management and budget, said participation would be voluntary and thanked the potential participants “for their willingness to assist with response during the peak wildfire activity.”
