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Natural resources

Senators Demand Transparency on Forest Service Workforce Reduction Funding

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Senate Ranking Members Jeff Merkley, Martin Heinrich, Amy Klobuchar, and Patty Murray have sent a letter to U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz demanding answers on how the Trump Administration is funding its workforce reduction programs. These programs have resulted in the termination of approximately 5,000 employees at the U.S. Forest Service, risking the safety of Americans who live on the frontlines of wildfires.

The letter was issued on September 11, and the senators are requesting clarification on the source of funds being used to carry out the Deferred Resignation Program (DRP) and Voluntary Early Retirement Authority (VERA) program. Since January, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has lost more than 15,500 personnel through the DRP and VERA to date, with approximately 5,000 of those being at the Forest Service. The senators are seeking answers on how taxpayers' dollars are being used to fund these programs.

Key Takeaways:

  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has lost more than 15,500 personnel through the DRP and VERA programs since January.
  • Approximately 5,000 of those employees were from the U.S. Forest Service.
  • The USDA has paid out more than $200 million to pay out accrued sick leave and vacation time for those employees.
  • The Forest Service has diverted $64.65 million from program funding accounts, which is 35 percent more than what was necessary to cover the reported DRP "accrued leave payout" costs.
  • Chief Schultz has given conflicting explanations about the source of funding for these programs in his testimony before the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
  • The senators are requesting answers to several questions, including the total amount required to pay out salaries and expenses and accrued leave to Forest Service employees, the number of employees who have participated in DRP and VERA, and the source of funds for each program area.
  • The senators are also seeking information on whether funds provided for Research and Development and State, Private, and Tribal Forestry are being held back from these areas to pay for personnel costs in other program areas.

Statistics:

  • More than 15,500 personnel have lost their jobs through the DRP and VERA programs since January.
  • Approximately 5,000 of those employees were from the U.S. Forest Service.
  • The USDA has paid out more than $200 million to pay out accrued sick leave and vacation time for those employees.
  • The Forest Service has diverted $64.65 million from program funding accounts.

Sources:

  • https://www.merkley.senate.gov/ranking-members-merkley-heinrich-klobuchar-murray-demand-answers-from-forest-service-chief-on-how-taxpayer-dollars-are-being-used-to-fund-workforce-reduction-programs/ (Original text)

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