Exempted from the Hiring Freeze: Public Safety Positions; Federal Firefighters, Guards, and Inspectors Query Their Exclusion

The ongoing federal hiring freeze, issued by President Trump, has caused a ripple effect across several agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service and the Agriculture Department's Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS).

In the U.S. Forest Service, positions critical to wildfire suppression, such as those involved in firefighting operations during the summer season, have been exempted from the personnel restrictions. However, employees have expressed confusion and low morale as a freeze exemption, as they had anticipated, has not been implemented.

The hiring freeze is causing a 'trickle-down effect' within the Forest Service, with employees not moving up the chain of command to help manage fires. As a result, fire captains are unable to make seasonal hires, and seasonal employees who typically return to the service year after year are currently 'in limbo.' Some may decide to join state or local fire departments due to the hiring freeze.

The inability to staff fire engines and hotshot crews with qualified personnel is a significant concern, given the U.S. Forest Service's lead role in federal firefighting. The lack of personnel could lead to short-staffed Engine modules, hotshot crews, and Initial Action crews during the upcoming peak fire season.

Meanwhile, at the FSIS, the hiring process is subject to intense scrutiny, and job offers are being rescinded. Each position FSIS wants to fill needs an Office of Personnel Management sign-off at every step of the hiring process. Ongoing hiring at FSIS is aimed at ensuring the safety and adequate supply of food to fulfill its statutory mission.

Advocacy groups warn that the hiring freeze could accelerate efforts to give industry more control over their own inspections, potentially leading to increased risk of contamination.

Furthermore, the hiring freeze is affecting jobs at agencies with roles related to immigration, national security, or public safety. New hires set for orientation at FSIS may be 'on hold due to the hiring freeze,' and internal employees starting new roles at FSIS 'may be affected as well.'

As of now, no hiring is taking place within the U.S. Forest Service for the upcoming peak fire season, and some employees within the service and those who work with it directly are in limbo, waiting to learn if they will be rehired.

In addition to the hiring freeze, a new outbreak of bird flu is currently impacting cattle and poultry across the country, adding another layer of complexity to the already challenging situation.

The impact of the hiring freeze on these critical agencies and their roles in public safety and food safety raises concerns about the potential risks and consequences in the near future.

Exempted from the Hiring Freeze: Public Safety Positions; Federal Firefighters, Guards, and Inspectors Query Their Exclusion