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Sen. Schiff urges Trump admin to exclude firefighters from federal hiring freeze

Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., has urged several federal agencies to make an exemption for federal seasonal firefighters from President Donald Trump’s executive order implementing a federal hiring freeze. In a letter addressed to the Department of Agriculture, the Department of the Interior, and the Office of Management and Budget, Schiff highlighted the potential negative impact of the hiring freeze on the readiness to respond to wildfires, particularly as Southern California continues to recover from devastating wildfires that occurred last month.

Schiff pointed out that Trump’s hiring freeze, issued on January 20, has halted the onboarding process of thousands of seasonal firefighters, which could significantly hamper the ability to combat wildfires effectively. He emphasized the crucial role that these firefighters play in ensuring public safety in fire-prone regions and expressed concern over the delay in their recruitment.

Despite the exemption in the hiring freeze memo for positions related to public safety, Schiff noted that the onboarding delay for seasonal federal firefighters contradicts this provision. He stressed the reliance of constituents and communities on the hard work and dedication of over 15,000 seasonal federal wildland firefighters each year.

The recent wildfires in Southern California, which claimed nearly 30 lives and destroyed thousands of structures, underscore the urgent need for a well-equipped and adequately staffed firefighting workforce. Some of the federal firefighters affected by Trump’s order had been involved in responding to the wildfires in the Los Angeles area.

Schiff raised concerns about the hiring freeze impacting federal firefighting applicants, the number of voluntary resignations, and the role of the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency in the hiring, preparedness, or readiness of federal wildland firefighters. He emphasized that impeding the recruitment of federal firefighters could jeopardize California’s firefighting capacity and put communities at risk.

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As wildfires continue to pose a significant threat to California and other fire-prone regions, Schiff urged the federal agencies to prioritize public safety and ensure that the necessary resources are available to combat these disasters effectively. The senator’s plea for exempting seasonal firefighters from the hiring freeze reflects a broader commitment to safeguarding communities and enhancing emergency response capabilities in the face of natural disasters.

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