Federal layoffs spark uncertainty for northern Minnesota agencies ahead of summer
The Trump administration on Thursday, Feb. 13, intensified its sweeping efforts to shrink the size of the federal workforce, the nation’s largest employer, by ordering agencies to lay off nearly all probationary employees who had not yet gained civil service protection — potentially affecting hundreds of thousands of workers.
The decision on probationary workers, who generally have less than a year on the job, came from the Office of Personnel Management, which serves as a human resources department for the federal government.
As of Feb. 16, no official press release or press briefings from the Trump administration or the Department of Government Efficiency led by Elon Musk have confirmed the firing of federal employees. However, multiple major news outlets have reported significant layoffs, according to sources involved within the various agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service.
The White House and OPM declined to say Friday how many probationary workers, who generally have less than a year on the job, have so far been dismissed. According to government data maintained by OPM, 220,000 workers had less than a year on the job as of March 2024. In addition to the U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service, the Associated Press reports probationary employees were laid off in the Department of Veterans Affairs, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Department of Education.
According to multiple news sources, of the probationary employees laid off, 3,400 were from the U.S. Forest Service, and 1,000 from the National Park Service.
In total, the U.S. Forest Service employs 35,000 people, and the National Park Service employs approximately 20,000.
It is unclear which positions in the Forest Service and National Park Service were affected. However, with the busy summer season approaching in northern Minnesota—impacting recreation and tourism in areas like the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Voyageurs National Park, and nearby Isle Royale National Park—there are many uncertainties about the short and long-term impacts.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the U.S. Forest Service, wrote in an email to WTIP,
“USDA cannot comment on individual personnel actions. Protecting the people and communities we serve, as well as the infrastructure, businesses, and resources they depend on to grow and thrive, remains a top priority for the USDA and the Forest Service. Our wildland firefighter and other public safety positions are of the utmost priority.”
The Forest Service did not respond to WTIP’s request for comment.
Following the news of National Park Service probationary employees being fired, Phil Francis, the Chair of the Executive Council of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, wrote in a press release, “Today, 1,000 National Park Service (NPS) employees lost their jobs. The decision to terminate probationary employees is shortsighted, prioritizing rapid workforce reduction over the essential roles these individuals fill. A limited exemption for public safety is insufficient to mitigate the impact. In an agency that has already experienced a significant staffing decline over the past decade, these layoffs will severely affect park operations and the visitor experience.”
In the press release, Francis said the Trump administration reinstated 5,000 seasonal job offers previously rescinded due to the federal hiring freeze. “As parks prepare for the busy season, we urge the administration to act swiftly in reinstating offers and look forward to hearing details on the process and timeline for reinstatement.”
The National Park Service did not respond to WTIP’s request for comment.
WTIP will continue to follow this developing story.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Kalli Hawkins February 16, 2025
