The Trump administration has revealed plans to cut jobs at federal agencies responsible for managing national parks, scientific research, and public lands, particularly affecting regions in the West, Southeast, and the Great Lakes.
According to a recent court filing from the Interior Department, approximately 2,050 employees will be laid off. This includes 272 from the National Park Service (NPS), 335 from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), 143 from the Fish and Wildlife Service, and 474 from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
These details emerged during a lawsuit challenging the administration’s extensive layoffs amid the federal government shutdown.
In the lawsuit filed by the employee union, Rachel Bora, the Chief Human Resources Officer for the Interior Department, outlined the plans. However, she mentioned that layoffs affecting union-represented employees would be paused for now.
It’s still uncertain if these planned layoffs are the only ones in the pipeline. Prior filings suggested that layoffs for non-union employees “may be issued” while the shutdown continues.
A representative from the department did not comment on whether further job cuts would occur.
In an email from a Home Office spokesperson, it was noted that the administration has continuously reviewed staffing needs since taking office, despite court-ordered suspensions. This evaluation includes examining efficiencies, cutting redundancies, offering retirement deferral programs, and considering options related to force reductions. The spokesperson also stated that any potential reductions predate the current governmental shutdown.
The announced job cuts will affect multiple offices. In particular, the NPS’s Southeast regional office will be hit hard, potentially losing 31% of its workforce, or 69 employees. This office oversees 73 parks across states like Alabama, Florida, and North Carolina.
The Northeast Regional Park Authority is set to lose 28% of its workforce, totaling 63 employees, while covering 83 locations across 13 states, including New York and Pennsylvania.
Additionally, the Pacific West Regional Office of the Park Service will see a loss of around 29% of staff, totaling 57 people, overseeing 60 locations in states like California and Washington.
Laura Daniel Davis, who was a deputy in the Biden administration, emphasized the role of regional offices in providing essential operational support for park management. She highlighted their importance for efficient management and stewardship of taxpayer dollars.
Meanwhile, significant cuts are anticipated at the USGS, where research centers may face staffing reductions. For instance, a total of 108 out of 137 positions at the Great Lakes Science Center, tasked with studying the lake’s ecosystem, are at risk. Another 28 cuts are planned for the Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, focused on the Great Plains.
Other USGS offices, like the Fort Collins Science Center in Colorado and the Columbia Environmental Research Center in Missouri, are also facing layoffs, impacting their research capabilities on topics critical to various sectors.
Weiss, deputy director of the Center for Western Priorities, stressed that this information is crucial for farmers, insurance providers, and builders alike, underscoring the importance of the data these agencies generate.
NPS and BLM will also see reductions in their coordinating offices; the NPS Denver Service Center will cut 40 jobs, while the BLM National Operations Center will lose 87 positions.
Weiss explained that these employees possess skills that are valuable throughout the agency, indicating that targeting such positions could lead to reduced efficiency in government operations.
Additionally, BLM offices across various states will suffer job losses, with significant reductions in Utah, Oregon, Washington, California, Idaho, Arizona, and Colorado.
