Rep. Dave Min Questions US Forest Service Chief on Staffing Cuts and Wildfire Readiness

Wildfire Risks and Staffing Concerns

• ⚠️ Rep. Dave Min highlighted the severe wildfire risks in Southern California, particularly around the Cleveland National Forest, citing recent major fires.
• ❓ He questioned the US Forest Service Chief, Tom Schultz, regarding the accuracy of reports stating 1,400 Red Card employees left the agency and 4,500 firefighting positions remain vacant.

Agency Staffing and Departures

• 📊 Chief Schultz confirmed that 1,400 red-carded employees left, with about 350 having fought fires in the last five years, and 130 of those have returned.
• 📉 A total of 5,200 Forest Service employees have left the agency since the beginning of the DRP and options.
• 🗣️ Schultz stated that the agency hired approximately 11,400 firefighters (GS9 and below) this year, exceeding their hiring target of 11,300.

Purchase Card Program and Operational Impact

• 💳 Changes have been made to the Forest Service's government purchase card program, reducing card availability but maintaining prior year limits.
• 🛒 Currently, about 4,000 cards are available, and an additional 2,000 were added about 8 weeks ago to ensure adequate spending authority for fire season.
• ❓ Min inquired if any firefighting-related purchases were delayed or not made due to card limits, to which Schultz agreed to investigate and respond.

Cleveland National Forest Specifics

• 📍 Min raised concerns about staffing levels at the Cleveland National Forest, noting that two ranger stations were unavailable for over 40% of August.
• 🗺️ Schultz stated he did not have current staffing numbers for the Cleveland National Forest readily available and would provide them later.

Proposed Reorganization and Regional Offices

• 🏛️ The US Forest Service believes the proposed restructuring by the Secretary of Agriculture will improve decision-making and local support.
• 🗓️ Details on the administration's consolidation plan for fire agencies, including the elimination of regional offices, are expected to be released soon.
• 🚫 Schultz assured that no forests or districts on the Cleveland National Forest would be closed as part of this plan.