WASHINGTON DC – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) led 14 of her Senate colleagues in a letter urging the Trump Administration to exempt seasonal firefighters from the federal hiring freeze. Reports emerged last week indicating that the federal funding freeze is preventing the hiring and onboarding of seasonal firefighters, a workforce that already struggles with recruitment and retention. This comes as the West continues to be ravaged by deadly wildfires.
Reno Gazette-Journal: Trump funding freeze could make fighting Nevada wildfires harder, Rosen warns
By Mark Robison
- President Donald Trump’s funding freeze could mean fewer firefighters on the frontlines of wildfires this year.
- Congressional offices are getting reports that the federal halt to hiring includes seasonal firefighters. Nevada Sen. Jacky Rosen enlisted 14 other Democratic senators in raising an alarm in a letter sent Tuesday to the Trump administration.
- “We are extremely concerned to hear that this is happening across the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and National Park Service ahead of what’s expected to be another devastating wildfire year,” the letter said.
- Reno Fire Chief David Cochran estimates seasonal federal firefighters make up 20% of boots on the ground for big wildfires.
- “If the hiring freeze applies to these seasonal firefighters that the feds hire, then you’re taking a big piece out of the response capability for these large-scale incidents like the Davis Fire,” he told the RGJ.
- The Davis Fire south of Reno burned more than 6,000 acres, 11 homes and a church in September.
- The Rosen letter said exemptions were granted for public safety personnel but not for seasonal firefighters.
- “We are appalled that federal seasonal firefighters are not already exempted, given the critical role they play in public safety throughout our communities,” it said.
KOLO Reno: Rosen pushing Trump to exempt seasonal firefighters from federal hiring freeze
By Kevin Sheridan
- U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen is pushing the Trump administration to exempt seasonal firefighters from a federal hiring freeze.
- She and 14 other Senators penned a letter to Trump after she said the freeze is preventing the hiring and onboarding of seasonal firefighters.
- “Although there is an urgent need to hire more federal firefighters, the Trump Administration’s hiring freeze does the opposite and is pausing hiring at a critical time for this already understaffed workforce,” they continued. “We urge you to put the safety of families and communities across the country first and allow the federal seasonal firefighter hiring process to continue without delay.”
KTVN Reno: Rosen urges Trump Admin to exempt seasonal firefighters from federal hiring freeze
Anchor: “Nevada Senator Jacky Rosen is trying to urge the Trump Administration to exempt certain firefighters from the federal hiring freeze. Senator Rosen led the charge with 14 of her colleagues in a letter telling the Trump Administration that the hiring freeze shouldn’t affect seasonal firefighters. This all started with reports from last week indicating that the federal funding freeze is preventing the hiring and onboarding of seasonal firefighters.’”
KSNV Las Vegas: Cortez Masto, Rosen urge Trump to exempt firefighters from federal hiring freeze
Anchor: “Trump’s federal funding freeze continues despite a judge temporarily striking down the executive order. Now, two Nevada lawmakers say the freeze is stopping the hiring of federal firefighting crews ahead of the wildfire season. Senators Jacky Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto sent a letter to the Trump Administration urging them to exempt seasonal firefighters from the hiring freeze. This, as several major wildfires have torn through the west coast in recent weeks. The letter says, in part, ‘Although there is an urgent need to hire more federal firefighters, the Trump Administration’s hiring freeze does the opposite and is pausing hiring at a critical time for this already understaffed workforce.’”
KRXI Reno: Rosen urges Trump Admin to exempt seasonal firefighters from federal hiring freeze
Anchor: “Nevada Senator Jacky Rosen leading a coalition of senators urging the Trump Administration to exempt seasonal firefighters from those federal hiring freezes. Reports emerged last week indicating the federal funding freeze is preventing the hiring and onboarding of seasonal firefighters, a workforce that’s already struggling with recruitment and retention. In a letter to the Trump Administration, the senators said, in part: ‘Although there is an urgent need to hire more federal firefighters, the Trump Administration’s hiring freeze does the opposite and is pausing hiring at a critical time for the already understaffed workforce.’”
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