BEND, Ore. — The effects of recent budget cuts and federal workforce reductions under the Trump administration are being keenly felt across Central Oregon’s national forests. These changes have led to significant layoffs, particularly among probationary employees who were hired temporarily and funded by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

Agriculture Secretary Leslie Rollins expressed full support for the President’s directive to improve government efficiency and eliminate inefficiencies, emphasizing the importance of being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars. “We have a solemn responsibility to ensure that every dollar spent goes to serve the people, not the bureaucracy,” Rollins stated.

As part of these broader efficiency efforts, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has made the difficult decision to release approximately 2,000 probationary, non-firefighting employees from the Forest Service. According to the USDA, these employees were not operational firefighters and were primarily hired on a temporary basis, with many receiving compensation through temporary IRA funding.

Rollins explained that the decision was a response to what the administration sees as an unsustainable hiring surge under the Biden administration. “It’s unfortunate that the Biden administration hired thousands of people without a clear long-term funding plan,” Rollins remarked, acknowledging the challenges in balancing short-term needs with long-term fiscal responsibility.

The cuts are expected to have a significant impact on local communities in Central Oregon, where the Forest Service plays a key role in managing public lands and providing essential services. However, Rollins emphasized that efforts would be made to ensure that critical safety positions within the agency remain intact, and that core services, such as firefighting operations, would not be interrupted.

While the layoffs are seen as a necessary step toward streamlining government operations, they have raised concerns about the long-term sustainability of temporary hires and their impact on local economies. The future of federal workforce policy remains uncertain as the government seeks to balance fiscal responsibility with maintaining essential public services.

For now, the layoffs represent a challenging chapter for Central Oregon’s national forests as they navigate the complexities of federal budget decisions and workforce restructuring.