How DOGE Threatens the Forest Service and Public Lands

[Brenda]

How many people were on Matt Ross’ trail team at the U.S. Forest Service? He doesn’t know the number off the top of his head, so he rattles off the names in his tight-knit circle of colleagues: Michael, Scotty, Mark … 19 people altogether. That includes himself as well as the seasonal workers — “the backbone of the workforce,” according to Ross. But when asked how many are left on the team after widespread terminations within federal lands agencies over Presidents Day weekend, Ross doesn’t hesitate. The answer is one.

Ross worked as a wilderness manager for Washington’s Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, coordinating maintenance for over 600 miles of trails. Thirteen projects had been planned for 2025, among them fixing up what he calls the gnarliest section of the 2,650-mile-long Pacific Crest Trail. The work would have required Forest Service workers to helicopter into the Mica Lake area to clear trails by hand so horses could get through to provide stock support for volunteers to conduct repair work. But the abrupt culling of Ross’ team has sent two years of project planning down the drain.

Overall, fired workers dispute that the federal purge would save the government money in the long run anyway, citing the irreversible impacts the firings would have on public lands. Moreover, some workers, including Ross, say their paychecks actually came out of recreation fees or state money rather than federal dollars. For all the gritty work they do, most entry-to-mid-level technical Forest Service workers earn an average of $20 an hour or less. “None of us do it for the money,” said Victoria Winch, a laid-off trail maintenance worker in Montana’s Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex. “We’re the best deal out there.”

https://www.truthdig.com/articles/how-doge-threatens-the-forest-service-and-public-lands/

[2naSalit]

1. It's a...

Total fucking nightmare out here in Magatana.

[Brenda]

2. storm

coming

[2naSalit]

3. Oh yeah...

A large portion of the population here are federal workers or used to be, like me. The last time that asshole did this, in 2017, it ended my career.

[Brenda]

4. Sorry to hear that.

I loved my trip through Montana and Wyoming years ago. Planned on going back to Yellowstone but I'm waiting to see what happens to it. Was planning on staying in the Park this time since the drive from Bozeman was too long each day.

Hopefully the proposed destruction of national parks is a bridge too far. In addition to the destruction of the NWS, NOAA, etc. etc. etc.

[2naSalit]

5. Sadly...

Due to human saturation, the YNP ecosystem is teetering and about to crash, soon. That's why I'm leaving for someplace far away from here. I live too close to the park and now feel I have to get far away from it because of all the wealthy and investment operations moving here and raising housing prices so high that we, who have been here for decades, can no longer afford to live here.

Sad.

[Brenda]

6. Yeah, the housing situation is nationwide.

I'm recently retired and was planning on moving but hurricane destruction ruined one place I had in mind (NOT Florida) and the vulture capitalists buying up homes en masse is ruining any chance I can sell for enough to buy anything elsewhere.

Damn, I didn't know YNP was in trouble. I was there in 2015 and it didn't appear to be that bad. At certain spots there were waaay too many people being pushy and rude to get their selfies.

I hope things get better for the area and you soon, if not good luck finding someplace good for you.

[2naSalit]

7. Thanks.

The pushy, rude tourist issue has not improved by any measure. It's just how tourist are anymore, desperate to get from one experience to the next, rushing from one to the next, all 4 million+. In my experience, people are at their worst while on vacation.

I hope to find something, even if I have to buy an RV. I lived in my 4runner for almost a year while waiting to be approved for disability a few years ago, an RV could be doable if I was desperate. I'm weighing all options. Had a feeling, over the past 25+ years, that this collapse of the nation would happen so I've taken that into consideration with every facet of my next actions. I sure hope I'll be okay. I just don't want to die in squalor or be scared while I die... which, I fear, is some ways off in the future.

But it's early in the day and I'm off to more positive thoughts while I prepare to take a giant leap to brighter things.

[Brenda]

8. Good to have options.

I bet you can find an RV community if other options don't work out. You do need to be near other people. I suspect there may be a lot of others who are in a similar situation as you in that area.

Have a great day! (I hate that saying but I really mean it.)