The “next generation” of wildland firefighters impacted by ripple effects of federal layoffs and funding disruptions

Following the termination letters that ended the careers of thousands of U.S. Forest Service and federal agency employees and the freezing of federal grant funding, the immediate and long-term impacts of wildfire prevention and response are coming to the forefront.

The Forest Service and federal firings are part of a wave of federal worker layoffs as President Donald Trump’s cost-cutting measures reverberate nationwide. Although officials within the Trump administration have stated wildland firefighters are essential workers and were not included in the layoffs, employees within fire management agencies and grant-funded programs are voicing their concern about the ripple effect the actions have had.

In the short term, the federal reductions have disrupted inter-agency collaborative fire programs, such as the Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP), established by Congress in 1998.

According to the National Interagency Fire Center, the JFSP, is a fire science exchange network that offers funding and facilitates collaboration between researchers and fire management professionals to address emerging local and national issues related to wildland fire, fuels, and fire-impacted ecosystems.

According to a fire science exchange network employee with over 30 years of experience that WTIP spoke with on condition of anonymity, the broader concern is the lasting effects on fire management research and the ability to train the next generation of wildland firefighting personnel.

According to the individual, whose position is funded by a United States Department of Agriculture grant, which has been suspended despite prior allocation from Congress, nationwide programs like the JFSP and more regional entities such as the Lake States Fire Science Consortium (LSFSC) are experiencing restrictions on training opportunities for aspiring firefighting personnel and natural resource professionals.

The LSFSC, a regional entity established underneath the umbrella of the JFSP, is a collaborative network of leading fire managers, researchers, Tribal entities, academic institutions, and fire officials within the Forest Service, National Park Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, among others. It spans Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio and extends into the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Manitoba.

The JFSP and the regional LSFSC are an intricate science and knowledge exchange network that supports and advances fire education, research, and training. It requires immense collaboration, according to the individual WTIP spoke with.

And now, the collaborative network is unraveling as many federal employees have been fired, and funding for programs, including fire training for up-and-coming firefighting personnel, has been suspended.

“I can’t physically do my work without the collaboration,” the individual said.

An integral aspect of the individual’s job is to travel to “support or lead fire training” for aspiring wildland firefighters and university students seeking a natural resources degree.

Many LSFSC fire training courses are offered near Lake Superior State College, the University of Minnesota, the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Michigan State University, and Grand Valley State University, among others.

The fire training and workshops are a mix of virtual and in-person with real-life applications related to prescribed burns, wildfire suppression, incident response, and fire management.

After completing the fire training coursework, the university students receive a National Wildfire Coordinating Group certificate, or ‘Red Card’ and become a trainee in a certain position.

According to the National Interagency Fire Center, a ‘Red Card’ is necessary to become qualified for wildland fire operations. It requires a combination of classroom training, field experience, and a physical fitness test. Once a respective agency hires an individual, the agency will accept liability for the employee and provide additional training where needed.

However, due to the suspension of USDA grant funding, which covers the salary and travel expenses of the fire science exchange network employee WTIP spoke with, the individual cannot conduct fire training for university students or attend workshops.

“So think about the next generation of the workforce basically,” the individual said.

A university graduate who completes the LSFSC training holds a competitive advantage as they pursue a job in the state, federal, or non-governmental workforce. With the basic fire training coursework already complete, the newly hired graduate can effectively begin supporting fire prevention and response efforts as they undergo additional training required for their ‘Red Card.’ It improves efficiencies in the hiring and onboarding process.

If a university graduate was hired without fire training, the time commitment and financial responsibility to provide the training falls on the respective agency.

With the USDA funding and fire training restricted, any up-and-coming university graduate pursuing a natural resources degree will now lose that competitive edge. The financial burden and extended training timeline will further delay or hinder wildland fire prevention and response efforts in the Midwest and nationwide.

“It collapses the fire training, which impacts the students,” the individual told WTIP.

According to the LSFSC 2023-24 annual report shared with WTIP, 1722 students completed 48 NWCG fire training and academic courses.

The report stated, “Many of these students have graduated and are actively working in careers in the natural resources field or directly in wildland fire.”

Another component of the broader concern is the reduction of federal employees who had qualifications to support wildland firefighting personnel ahead of the upcoming fire season.

According to the individual WTIP spoke with, many of their fellow fired colleagues held ‘Red Card’ qualifications, meaning they assisted or supported wildfire operations in some capacity. “Almost all of them had qualifications to work on wildfire incidents at some level.”

While the federal layoffs may not have directly impacted individual wildland firefighters, according to the Trump administration, the ripple effect of the indirect impacts is apparent, the individual told WTIP.

In order to safely transport the wildland firefighters, purchase fire-retardant suits, and sign their paychecks, there are federal employees who have lost their jobs or are facing funding disruptions that will impede wildfire response across the nation.

The U.S. Forest Service is comprised of the largest number of firefighters of any fire agency at nearly 11,400 as of July 2024, according to a Feb. 24 report shared with WTIP published by the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Department. The academic university is part of the fire science exchange network.

Prior to the federal layoffs, the wildland fire workforce already suffered from understaffing and underqualification, mainly due to a lack of retention and insufficient recruitment, the report stated.

Additional consequences of the lingering impacts on the wildfire workforce identified in the report include staff burnout, public safety concerns, a growing demand for private contract firefighters, and negative economic impacts on rural communities.

The disruptions to fire management extend beyond the U.S. border as the LSFSC includes individuals within the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Cross-border collaboration is a critical component for wildfire response within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Quetico Provincial Park, and other areas along the Minnesota and Canadian border. Many U.S. wildland firefighters travel to Canada and assist with fire support and suppression throughout the wildfire season.

“Fire doesn’t recognize human borders,” the individual told WTIP. “It doesn’t care which state you’re in or which province you’re in.”

The ripple effect of the federal layoffs and funding suspensions also creates disruptions in the Great Lakes Forest Fire Compact (GLFFC), comprising three states and Canadian provinces, Ontario and Manitoba.

The compact was created to facilitate mutual aid, training, and resource coordination in fighting wildfires across the Great Lakes region. It allows members to efficiently share firefighting personnel, equipment, and expertise, particularly during severe fires when resources in a particular jurisdiction may be strained.

“When you start downsizing the personnel and resources on the U.S. side, that greatly impacts the compacts because how do you keep up with your side of the bargain,” the individual with whom WTIP spoke said. “It’s a commitment to support each other.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Kalli Hawkins February 26, 2025