The Forest Service Director announced Wednesday that he would retire, expressing his “frustration” over the reduction in Trump administration's staff.
In a resignation letter posted online, Forest Service chief Randy Moore said he would leave the agency on Monday.
in letter Posted online, Moore expressed his dissatisfaction with the reported thousands of layoffs at the forest management agency.
“Last few weeks [have] It's incredibly difficult. As part of a broader effort to reduce the size of the federal government, we parted ways with colleagues who worked with people who have contributed well to our mission and contributed to valued members of the Forest Service team,” he said.
“If you're feeling uncertainty, frustration, or loss, you're not alone. These are the real valid emotions I feel,” he added.
In the letter, Moore also wrote that the decision to fire these employees was made “at a higher level in our organization.”
President Biden appointed Moore to lead the Forest Service in 2021. Previously, he was a regional forester in the Southwest Pacific from 2007 to 2021.
The Forest Service is housed within the Ministry of Agriculture. It manages national forests. In his note, Moore said the agency would issue leases to provide drinking water to 80 million people and allow for oil and gas drilling.
