1. United States
2. Mont.
3. Letter

The potential layoffs of up to 7,000 Forest Service employees are deeply concerning. These public servants play a vital role in managing America's public lands and natural resources through invaluable research and on-the-ground work. Their efforts contribute significantly to wildfire prevention, sustainable forest management, and the economic well-being of rural communities across the nation. Reducing the Forest Service's workforce on such a massive scale will have severe repercussions. Forest health monitoring and scientific research vital for guiding sustainable practices will be compromised. Communities relying on the agency's expertise in forestry, wildfire response and conservation efforts will suffer. Additionally, the loss of these jobs will deal a harsh economic blow to already struggling rural areas. I urge you to reconsider these draconian staffing cuts that undermine the Forest Service's crucial mission. Instead of decimating its ranks, we should be bolstering the agency's capacity to tackle pressing environmental challenges like the growing wildfire crisis. Maintaining robust forestry research and skilled personnel is essential for responsible stewardship of our nation's treasured public lands and natural resources for current and future generations. I implore you to reverse course and invest in strengthening, not dismantling, this vital public institution.