U.S. Forest Service veterans from Montana expect federal cuts to significantly erode visitor experiences and local wildfire mitigation and response this summer, while a continuing lack of transparency could undermine staff trust, leading to further losses.
Following the termination of probationary workers and cuts by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) earlier this year, sources estimate that the U.S. Forest Service, which is run by the Department of Agriculture (USDA), has lost as many as 7,000 of 34,000 staffers across the country, or more than 20 percent of its workforce.
The Helena-Lewis & Clark National Forest looks set to enter wildfire and tourist season with up to 40 percent fewer non-primary fire workers and an up to 20 percent reduction in Forest Service staff, according to Bill Avey, a longtime HLCNF supervisor who retired in 2022.
