As US wildfires rage, Trump staff cuts force firefighters to clean toilets, critics say
Story by Andrew Hay • 15h
(Reuters) -The U.S. Forest Service faced criticism from current and former employees who say federal workforce reductions under the Trump administration have left fire teams understaffed, as the country grapples with decade-high U.S. wildfire numbers this year.
The agency, which oversees the nation's largest wildland firefighting force, rejected those claims, saying it has sufficient resources.
However, more than a dozen active and retired U.S. Forest Service employees told Reuters the agency is struggling to fill critical roles after approximately 5,000 employees - roughly 15% of its workforce - quit in the past five months.
Accounts from firefighters in Oregon and New Mexico, as well as a fire chief recruiting support staff in the Pacific Northwest, said the vacancies have led to personnel held back from supporting frontline firefighting because of administrative duties.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/as-us-wildfires-rage-trump-staff-cuts-force-firefighters-to-clean-toilets-critics-say/ar-AA1J1k7q?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=HCTS&cvid=248092a29cd84804a85aa5a6cd9b9c6e&ei=80
