WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar (both D-MN) are pressing the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) over recent reporting about dramatic staffing and budget cuts at USFS that will negatively impact local economies across Minnesota and make it more difficult for visitors to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness to receive necessary permits. Specifically, the Senators probed USFS Chief Tom Schultz for more clarity on the full extent of the staffing cuts at USFS and the public safety, economic, and environmental impacts this will have on the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and the Superior and Chippewa National Forests.
“In Minnesota, the Superior National Forest, Chippewa National Forest, and Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness attract over 1.5 million visitors annually. This results in an economic impact of nearly $200 million to the communities around these critical public lands. Efforts to reduce the Forest Service’s workforce raise doubts about the agency’s ability to manage forests against risks like wildfire while preparing visitors to both enjoy and respect the land,” wrote the Senators.
“The administration of over 5,000 permits will now largely be the burden of local small businesses, who are concerned about their ability to administer this volume of permits. In addition, we are concerned that basic maintenance and management of the Boundary Waters will suffer without dedicated staff working to safely clear canoe portage trails and campsites.” the Senators continued.
The Senators posed several questions to the Trump Administration, including:
- How many USFS employees in Minnesota have been terminated, furloughed, put on administrative leave, or otherwise notified of future administrative leave since January 20, 2025? Please provide the job titles and duty stations for each category described above and how many were veterans or if the probationary employees were previously employed by the Federal government immediately prior to their most recent role.
- How many USFS employees in Minnesota accepted the deferred resignation offers that have been offered to federal employees by the Office of Personnel Management?
- In light of this request, will staff in Minnesota’s Kawishiwi and Gunflint Forest Service Ranger Stations be reinstated to meet increased summer visitor demand? If so, when? If not, why not?
- Is USFS assessing the public safety, economic, and environmental impacts of workforce reductions? Please share any assessments USFS has conducted or describe the methods in which USFS is conducting this assessment.
- How will workforce reductions in Minnesota’s USFS impact long-term wildlife habitat in the Superior National Forest, Chippewa National Forest, and Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness?
- What is USFS’s plan to adequately permit and educate visitors to our National Forests and Wilderness areas now that fewer rangers are dedicated to the issue? Please be specific and include education on public safety, leave-no-trace policies, and ecosystem impacts.
- What offices and staff have been involved in the planning of these firings?
Read a full copy of the letter here and below.
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