CNN has reported that President Donald Trump’s federal hiring freeze is preventing the recruitment of seasonal federal firefighters, potentially impacting wildfire response in the coming months.
Each year, thousands of federal firefighters are rehired ahead of spring and summer, but this process has been halted due to an executive order issued on Trump’s first day in office.
The order prohibits new federal civilian hires and prevents vacant positions from being filled.
Ben McLane, a federal hand crew captain and board member of Grassroots Wildland Firefighters, told CNN: “We’re going to have a lack of personnel when fire season gets going.”
He added: “The precedent that we’ve seen over the last few decades at this point is making us pretty certain that it’s going to be a big fire season again.”
The hiring freeze affects multiple federal agencies responsible for wildland firefighting.
According to CNN, the Department of the Interior employs 5,780 federal wildland firefighters, while the U.S. Forest Service employs more than 11,300.
Federal firefighters respond to incidents across the U.S. and internationally, McLane told CNN, adding that the federal government is the only firefighting resource capable of responding “as fluidly and nimbly.”
Most federal firefighters are seasonal hires, with many requiring annual rehiring.
McLane said: “All of that is stopped right now,” emphasizing that there is “no wiggle room in the schedule” to restart hiring later in the year.
The consequences of the hiring freeze are already evident.
CNN affiliate KSL reported that fire trucks in Utah may operate with two-person crews instead of the usual four or five.
In some cases, fire trucks may go unstaffed.
The Department of the Interior told CNN it is “implementing President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order across the federal civilian workforce.”
The U.S. Forest Service said that wildland firefighting positions are “considered public safety positions” and that the agency is “actively working” with the White House Office of Performance and Personnel Management.
Cal Fire, which partners with the Forest Service, told CNN it is unclear how the freeze will affect fire protection on federal lands in California.
The hiring freeze comes as federal fire departments are already struggling to maintain staffing levels.
Steve Gutierrez of the National Federation of Federal Employees told CNN that firefighters remain “woefully underpaid,” with entry-level wages as low as $15 per hour.
Gutierrez warned that many firefighters awaiting rehiring could seek employment elsewhere.
“It’s very likely we can lose all these skilled employees… and never recuperate on that,” he said.
Trump’s executive order does not prohibit hiring for “essential services” related to national security and public safety.
However, the White House has not indicated whether federal firefighters qualify for an exemption.
McLane told CNN: “We need to find out soon if there is intent to exempt wildland firefighters from the hiring freeze.”
CNN has reported that President Donald Trump’s federal hiring freeze is preventing the hiring of seasonal federal firefighters.
The U.S. Forest Service and the Department of the Interior, which together employ more than 17,000 firefighters, are unable to rehire seasonal personnel needed for wildfire response.
Firefighters and union representatives have warned that reduced staffing could affect fire response, with reports of understaffed fire trucks in Utah.
The hiring freeze coincides with concerns over low firefighter pay, with entry-level federal firefighters earning $15 per hour.
While Trump’s executive order allows exemptions for “essential services,” it is unclear whether federal firefighting roles qualify.
Firefighters have urged federal agencies to clarify their status before the peak of wildfire season.
