Senators Demand Transparency on Trump Administration's Workforce Reduction Programs in U.S. Forest Service

Strategic Insights -

As the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has lost over 15,500 personnel through the Deferred Resignation Program (DRP) and Voluntary Early Retirement Authority (VERA) since January, U.S. Senators Patty Murray, Martin Heinrich, Jeff Merkley, and Amy Klobuchar are demanding answers from U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz regarding the funding sources behind these programs. The senators are concerned that 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, is a result of these programs.

Key Takeaways:

  • The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has lost over 15,500 personnel through the Deferred Resignation Program (DRP) and Voluntary Early Retirement Authority (VERA) since January.
  • Approximately 5,000 of those employees were at the U.S. Forest Service, resulting in a significant risk to the safety of Americans who live on the frontlines of wildfires.
  • Chief Tom Schultz has provided conflicting explanations about the source of funding for the workforce reduction programs, including stating that the funding came from annually appropriated dollars at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing and later claiming that it came from the Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
  • The senators are requesting answers from Schultz regarding the discrepancies in his testimony and the use of funds from the Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to pay for the workforce reduction programs.
  • The senators are also demanding clarification on the total amount required to pay out both salaries and expenses and accrued leave to Forest Service employees who opted into the DRP and VERA programs, as well as the source of funds for the payouts.
  • The senators are seeking information on the statutory authority for using funds from different appropriations to pay for workforce reduction programs and whether the use of funds from IRA and IIJA is compliant with statutory caps on amounts used for salaries and expenses.

Statistics:

  • Over 15,500 personnel have been lost through the Deferred Resignation Program (DRP) and Voluntary Early Retirement Authority (VERA) since January at the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).
  • Approximately 5,000 of those employees were at the U.S. Forest Service.
  • Over $200 million has been spent on accrued sick leave and vacation time for employees who have participated in the DRP and VERA programs at the USDA.
  • $48 million of that is for Forest Service employees.
  • The total amount diverted from program funding within Forest and Rangeland Research and State, Private, and Tribal Forestry was $64.65 million this year, 35 percent more than what USDA leadership stated was necessary to cover the reported DRP "accrued leave payout" costs for the entire agency.

Sources:

  • Letter to U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz from U.S. Senators Patty Murray, Martin Heinrich, Jeff Merkley, and Amy Klobuchar.
  • Testimony of Chief Tom Schultz before the Senate Appropriations Committee on June 11, 2025.
  • Testimony of Chief Tom Schultz before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on July 10, 2025.