I worked for eight years for the Helena and my mom worked there her whole career. She told me 33 people have lost their jobs as of yesterday and said more firings were expected over the weekend (oh how I want her to be wrong). My heart is breaking - the FS is not perfect but my god we do so much with so little. And I am so worried about these people who lost their jobs, who might have to leave, because Montana has become so insanely expensive and impossible to afford a home in. No more rich assholes who put up gates and don’t actually bring anything to our communities! Last year I backpacked deep in the Absaroka Beartooths and the whole time I was so grateful at how well the trail crews had done their job. I’m so angry and sad.
Shit is well and truly fucked. Thank you for letting us know about more areas of concern and for fighting so hard for the people and purposes you care about!
1500 of my coworkers were laid off on Thursday (by the marginally less evil billionaire). Leadership did at least emphasize that it was positions/roles being cut, and that it was not based on individual performance. The messages that insinuate that any of these firing were in any way related to personal performance are super infuriating and mostly seem to be designed to demoralize folks.
I’m sorry that folks you care about are going through this and I’m proud of you for using the platform you have to advocate for them!
I can’t leave a picture in this comment but three recently fired Forest Service employees came to our President’s Day rally in Whitefish and it broke my heart. These are smart, caring, and devoted people. Many are young people, who already have so much working against them. If anyone cares to scroll through the pictures and read their words in the article, it’s really devastating. https://whitefishpilot.com/news/2025/feb/19/protest-on-presidents-day-opposes-trump-administration/
One of the truly frustrating things about all of this is how much of the damage has its roots in our failed system. At least on the STF, we utilized, very much utilized, special hiring authorities like Schedule A, VRA and such because our HR system was/is so broken ... absolutely wonderful people who might have been safe had we just been able to hire them through normal channels found themselves on a two-year probationary period due to the rules of the special hiring authorities ... Seriously, it makes me sick to my stomach.
I am so sorry. My appreciation for every one of you runs so deep. As a recreator on our public lands for 40 years I have always been in awe at the tireless work you all do. I am deeply disturbed by these cuts. I am with you all. I am the resistance, ready to fight.
Can confirm the Forest Service is decimated. OPM has been working hard this weekend to get everyone fired ahead of the injunction that the unions are supposed to be filing on Tuesday. The first round was “probationary”employees- all employees within their first year of employment. Now they are coming for Schedule A and VRA this weekend.
just wrote my reps for like the 20th time this week. my anger knows no bounds is apropos as a mantra... hang in there friends. i'm so sorry for all these amazing people.. i'm in the arts in academia and queer so yeah...
I worked for eight years for the Helena and my mom worked there her whole career. She told me 33 people have lost their jobs as of yesterday and said more firings were expected over the weekend (oh how I want her to be wrong). My heart is breaking - the FS is not perfect but my god we do so much with so little. And I am so worried about these people who lost their jobs, who might have to leave, because Montana has become so insanely expensive and impossible to afford a home in. No more rich assholes who put up gates and don’t actually bring anything to our communities! Last year I backpacked deep in the Absaroka Beartooths and the whole time I was so grateful at how well the trail crews had done their job. I’m so angry and sad.
Shit is well and truly fucked. Thank you for letting us know about more areas of concern and for fighting so hard for the people and purposes you care about!
1500 of my coworkers were laid off on Thursday (by the marginally less evil billionaire). Leadership did at least emphasize that it was positions/roles being cut, and that it was not based on individual performance. The messages that insinuate that any of these firing were in any way related to personal performance are super infuriating and mostly seem to be designed to demoralize folks.
I’m sorry that folks you care about are going through this and I’m proud of you for using the platform you have to advocate for them!
I can’t leave a picture in this comment but three recently fired Forest Service employees came to our President’s Day rally in Whitefish and it broke my heart. These are smart, caring, and devoted people. Many are young people, who already have so much working against them. If anyone cares to scroll through the pictures and read their words in the article, it’s really devastating. https://whitefishpilot.com/news/2025/feb/19/protest-on-presidents-day-opposes-trump-administration/
This is heartbreaking to read. Not just the arbitrarily ruined plans of hardworking young people, but what it takes from us as a nation.
One of the truly frustrating things about all of this is how much of the damage has its roots in our failed system. At least on the STF, we utilized, very much utilized, special hiring authorities like Schedule A, VRA and such because our HR system was/is so broken ... absolutely wonderful people who might have been safe had we just been able to hire them through normal channels found themselves on a two-year probationary period due to the rules of the special hiring authorities ... Seriously, it makes me sick to my stomach.
I am so sorry. My appreciation for every one of you runs so deep. As a recreator on our public lands for 40 years I have always been in awe at the tireless work you all do. I am deeply disturbed by these cuts. I am with you all. I am the resistance, ready to fight.
Can confirm the Forest Service is decimated. OPM has been working hard this weekend to get everyone fired ahead of the injunction that the unions are supposed to be filing on Tuesday. The first round was “probationary”employees- all employees within their first year of employment. Now they are coming for Schedule A and VRA this weekend.
just wrote my reps for like the 20th time this week. my anger knows no bounds is apropos as a mantra... hang in there friends. i'm so sorry for all these amazing people.. i'm in the arts in academia and queer so yeah...
Fuming.
Thank you. 🙏🏻 More cuts happening Monday.