1. What is the Forest Service?
2. List of Forest Service Firings
   1. Probationary Employees

What is the Forest Service?

The U.S. Forest Service is a federal agency within the Department of Agriculture responsible for managing public lands in national forests and grasslands. Established in 1905, the Forest Service oversees about 193 million acres of land, roughly 8.5% of the total land area in the United States. Its mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. This includes managing timber resources, protecting watersheds, maintaining wildlife habitats, and providing recreational opportunities.

The agency plays a key role in wildfire management, both in terms of prevention and active firefighting. It conducts controlled burns, manages forest density, and coordinates with state and local agencies to respond to wildfires. The Forest Service also helps with post-fire recovery, reforestation, and studying fire behavior to improve future preparedness.

Beyond fire management and land conservation, the Forest Service works with private landowners, local communities, and Native American tribes to promote sustainable forest practices. It supports scientific research through its network of research stations and laboratories, contributing to knowledge on climate change, ecosystems, and forest health. Overall, the Forest Service balances conservation with public access, resource use, and environmental stewardship.

TL;DR: The Forest Service takes care of U.S. forests and grasslands, helps fight wildfires, and makes sure people can use nature without messing it up.

List of Forest Service Firings

Below is a list of Forest Service personnel that have been fired by President Donald Trump or the Trump Administration, sorted by most recent:

Probationary Employees

Approximately 3,400 Probationary Employees – U.S. Forest Service
Firings in February 2025

The U.S. Forest Service, which manages nearly 200 million acres of national forests and grasslands, has seen a 10% reduction in its workforce under recent federal budget cuts, with more layoffs and a reorganization expected. Since about 75% of Forest Service employees are trained in wildfire response, the cuts mean fewer staff are available for critical tasks like clearing brush, managing forest density, and responding to wildfires—raising concerns as the fire season approaches.

In addition to staff reductions, new administrative review processes have slowed down routine operations, impacting basic maintenance services at recreational sites such as trash collection and restroom upkeep. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the agency, confirmed that 2,000 probationary employees not involved in firefighting were recently laid off, adding to the strain on essential services provided by the Forest Service nationwide.

TL;DR: The Forest Service fired around 3,400 probationary workers, so now there are fewer people to stop wildfires and keep parks clean.