Donald Trump’s indiscriminate firing spree is hitting states across the country. From negative impacts on the nation’s health agencies to concerns about the FAA and transportation safety, nearly every corner of America will be affected. States like Utah and Colorado will see just how dangerous these firings are for national parks and public safety, while cuts to Social Security workers in states like Wisconsin would have a devastating effect on communities.
Over 80% of the federal workforce lives outside of Washington and communities across the country will feel the effects of these firings.
Here’s how Donald Trump’s federal firings are impacting Americans across the country:
Washington Post: Trump’s federal firings imperil government services from cities to farm towns
[Hannah Natanson, Emily Davies, Lisa Rein and Rachel Siegel, 2/14/25]
“In one state, all but two of the employees who helmed an Agriculture Department program assisting poor rural communities were fired. And in a tiny Wyoming town, a Forest Service office that has spent decades providing support to hikers, Christmas tree permits to residents and firewood for the elderly has been forced to shutter, a staffer said. …
“Meanwhile, some federal employees who moved across the country to take positions in D.C., suddenly jobless, say they are unable to pay their rent and unable to afford a move back home. Others are struggling to figure out how they’ll afford their children’s college tuition or care for elderly parents. …
“At the Environmental Protection Agency, meanwhile, leaders of the agency’s largest union said 388 members were terminated Friday afternoon. The firings could undermine efforts to protect Americans from toxic chemicals and natural disasters such as the recent wildfires that ripped through the Los Angeles area.”
The Spokesman-Review: Federal workers across the Northwest are being fired by the Trump administration. They warn of impacts to wildfires, science and historic landmarks
[Alexandra Duggan, 2/15/25]
“The Trump administration promised wildland firefighters they would be safe from termination. But that pledge doesn’t apply to those who are the second line of defense during wildfire season. …
“When wildfires ignite, firefighters head straight to the flames with their axes and hard hats while helicopters zoom overhead. As they do the work, they look to other workers for support: dispatchers, mechanics or forest protection planners. Public information officers take details from those people and distribute them to help reach people and keep them safe.
“Such positions were among those gutted last week, Brossard said.
“‘You’re going to have this huge gap going into fire season of a critical position to inform the public what is going on on their lands,’ Brossard said. ‘In the Forest Service, there are office positions for fires. There are extra dispatchers. There is ground support. They’re all being let go. Everything in the Forest Service is going to be affected. They’re going after the support people, the people who do all the work on these incidents; it’s all going to be limited.’”
CBS News: CDC’s “disease detectives” halved as part of DOGE cuts at health agencies
[Alexander Tin, 2/17/25]
“‘The country is less safe. These are the deployable assets critical for investigating new threats, from anthrax to Zika,’ said Dr. Anne Schuchat, a former top-ranking CDC official and alumna of the program, in a message.
“In all, around 1,270 are being let go from the agency out of 2,800 probationary workers. The cuts amount to around 1 in 10 of the CDC’s staff.
“It is unclear who decided which CDC staff to cut. While managers at the Atlanta-based agency were asked to rank probationary hires earlier this month, officials told CBS News that the final decisions on which staff to cut were handed down from Trump administration appointees outside the agency.”
AZ Mirror: Trump’s ‘Unleash American Energy’ order sparks concern about the Grand Canyon national monument
[Shondiin Silversmith, 2/17/25]
“During his first term, Trump eliminated environmental protections for two national monuments in Utah by reducing the sizes of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante. The Biden administration restored both in 2021.
“With Trump’s Unleashing American Energy order, the Bear Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments are at risk again because they both hold large critical mineral reserves. …
“The orders threaten the Grand Canyon Region in two significant ways: the Obama administration’s 2012 mining ban, which is in place for 20 years before it needs to be renewed, and the added protections from Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni—Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument.
“‘The secretarial order threatens both those layers of protection for the Grand Canyon region that tribes and communities have fought for years to attain,’ Reimondo said, and the order threatens them despite the massive support national monuments have.”
Denver Post: Federal mass firings will increase wildfire risk, endanger Colorado’s public lands, state leaders warn
[Elise Schmelzer, 2/17/25]
“‘It’s reckless endangerment to Coloradans and could increase homeowners insurance costs further for the Trump administration to take a hammer to those who help protect us against wildfires through watershed protection and forest management, tipping the scale toward more fire danger with potentially devastating consequences,’ [Gov. Jared] Polis said in a statement. …
“The [Forest Service’s] staff nationwide declined 30% in the last three decades even as visitation to forests dramatically increased and wildfires became more frequent and destructive. Nearly all of Colorado’s largest wildfires burned on forest service land.
“‘These public servants not only maintain the health of our headwaters and wildlife habitat but help keep our communities safe by decreasing the risk of wildfire destroying homes and critical infrastructure,’ the Democratic lawmakers wrote. ‘They put out campfires, clear trails, clean bathrooms, and manage trailheads. They also help businesses with the permitting process to use Forest Service lands, including grazers, guides, outfitters, ski resorts, and oil, gas and mining operations.’
“The indiscriminate cuts risk permanent damage to Colorado’s federal public lands and threaten the rural communities that rely economically on outdoor recreation and tourism, Ridgway Mayor John Clark said in a news release.
“‘President Trump’s approach to public lands is a threat to our way of life in rural Colorado,’ Clark said.”
2 News Nevada: U.S. Forest Service impacted by federal firings
[Jaden Urban, 2/17/25]
“They say the new staffing shortages will be noticed by the public in the future, really impact parks and recreation.
“‘Long term, these were positions we were trying to be filled for years,’ Wignall said. ‘It means trails will not be maintained, outhouses will not be cleaned, wilderness camping spots will not be maintained. It means we lost our preventative search and rescue on the Sierra along the Pacific crest trail. So, we’re not going to have that staff, we’re going to have to rely on other staff and agencies to go and find these overdue campers.’”
Washington Post: Trump’s firings strike the nation’s health agencies
[Rachel Roubein, Lena H. Sun and Carolyn Y. Johnson, 2/18/25]
“About 130 fellows in another elite public health program that assigns them to state and local health agencies also received termination notices. In the past two years, they have responded to fires and flooding in New Mexico, an environmental disaster in San Diego and an ongoing tuberculosis outbreak in Kansas City, said one fellow in his 30s, who received a notice. He spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal.
“‘We are the ones that support most of these outbreaks,’ he said. ‘With these cuts you’re hitting the people actually doing the field work.’”
Tri-City Herald: Fed workers in Tri-Cities lose jobs in 1st round of federal layoffs. Nuclear site impacted
[Annette Cary, 2/17/25]
“Murray said that the Bonneville Power Administration apparently laid off more than 600 people across the Northwest, including electricians, engineers, biologists, lineworkers and cybersecurity experts.
“‘These are literally the people who help keep the lights on — and now they’re being fired on a whim because Trump and Elon Musk don’t have a clue about what they do and why it’s important, and don’t care to learn,’ Murray said.
“‘They don’t seem to even understand that these are positions funded by ratepayers — by all of us in the Northwest — and not from federal funding,’ she said. …
“‘The callousness of this administration is breathtaking,’ Murray said. ‘These mass layoffs pose a serious threat to our energy security and the health and safety of people across our state, not to mention the livelihoods of so many hardworking families who have done nothing wrong and whose work is sorely needed.’”
Wisconsin Public Radio: Wisconsin has 18K federal workers. Buyouts or layoffs could affect services.
[Danielle Kaeding, 2/10/25]
“Jessica LaPointe, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Council 220, represents nearly 27,000 field workers with the Social Security Administration nationwide. … She said the proposed buyouts and threats of layoffs come as the agency is facing a 50-year low in staffing amid a growing number of beneficiaries.
“‘We’ve been in a hiring freeze for a year, so losing mass amounts of staff at the Social Security Administration would have a snowball effect as workloads mount on a stressed out workforce,’ LaPointe said. ‘And how that translates to the public is severely long service delays.’ …
“The Forest Service is housed under the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which employs more than 1,700 people in Wisconsin. Wisconsin workers with the Forest Service oversee timber sales, compliance with federal environmental laws, recreation in national forests and other duties. …
“The union representative warned timber sales could be hamstrung or shut down amid buyouts or layoffs. …
“Westby dairy farmer Darin Von Ruden, president of the Wisconsin Farmers Union, noted farmers often work with federal employees at the Farm Service Agency to sign up for crop insurance or access financial assistance when milk prices drop. They also take part in conservation programs that provide payments or cost-share assistance for practices that benefit water quality and control runoff.
“He said reduced staffing could hurt Wisconsin farmers.”
WSB-TV 2: ‘We’ve been betrayed:’ Local veterans angry after being laid off by Trump administration
[Richard Elliot, 2/15/25]
“‘We’re mistreated,’ [Former U.S. Army First Sergeant Nelson] Feliz told Channel 2’s Richard Elliot. ‘We’ve been betrayed.’
“The ‘Notice of Termination’ email from the VA to Feliz stated, ‘The agency finds, based on your performance, that you have not demonstrated that your further employment at the agency would be in the public interest.’
“‘I was a first sergeant. My job was to take care of troops, making sure they were paid, fed, and slept. Why is this happening to us? I’ve been here too long for this to be happening,’ Feliz said.”
Wyoming Public Media: U.S. Forest Service to cull 3,400 workers – Wyoming forests brace for impact
[Caitlin Tan, 2/18/25]
“Notably, Wyoming is coming off a devastating fire season with over 850,000 acres burned. Fighting the fires fully wiped out the state’s funds to do so and the legislature is debating whether to replenish those funds.
“Underwood added that outdoor recreation is booming in Wyoming, so there’s a need for USFS jobs that maintain trails, campgrounds and other infrastructure.
“The Winter Wildlands Alliance echoed a similar sentiment to WPR Thursday night.
“‘While we are still waiting to know specifics, this action will have serious, negative repercussions for National Forests,’ said Hilary Eisen, Winter Wildlands Alliance policy director. ‘This will directly impact the millions of Americans who visit National Forests each year.’”
Politico: Trump administration firings hit key office handling bird flu response
[Marcia Brown, 2/16/25]
“Laboratories in a national network of 58 facilities responding to the spread of bird flu were notified Friday that 25 percent of the staff in a central program office coordinating their work was fired in the Trump administration’s mass layoffs of federal employees.”
