Oregon — U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, Jeff Merkley, and Patty Murray are calling on the Trump administration to immediately reinstate 13 federal employees in Oregon and Washington who were removed from their positions at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in May.
In a letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, the senators said the employees received reassignment letters that effectively terminated their district-level public affairs and public information roles with no apparent plan to replace them as wildfire season begins.
According to the senators, the affected employees served as Public Affairs Officers or Public Information Officers in BLM district offices and were responsible for communicating wildfire conditions, evacuation notices, and other emergency information to communities, local officials, and the media. Some also held “red card” qualifications, allowing them to support wildland firefighting operations.
“It is extremely concerning that there are now zero on-the-ground, district level personnel to communicate critical public safety information to our constituents, the media, and local officials,” the senators wrote. “Removing these employees at the very start of fire season with no apparent plan to replace them leaves communities across our states without the information and resources they need to stay safe during fires; this may have life-threatening consequences.”
The lawmakers linked their concerns to forecasts of a potentially severe wildfire season in the Pacific Northwest, citing low snowpack levels and worsening drought conditions. They argued that recent federal budget and staffing reductions have already strained wildfire preparedness and response efforts across the West.
The letter also included testimony from a whistleblower with experience in wildfire response operations. The individual said Public Affairs Specialists and Public Information Officers play a critical role within the incident response system by helping ensure communities receive timely evacuation notices, safety information, and updates during rapidly changing emergency situations.
“As Oregon and Washington face the potential for another severe fire season, reducing the capacity to communicate critical public safety information risks leaving communities less informed and less prepared during emergencies,” the whistleblower stated.
The senators contend that eliminating experienced communications personnel removes decades of institutional knowledge, local relationships, and wildfire response expertise at a time when communities may increasingly rely on accurate and timely information during fire emergencies.
The Interior Department has not publicly announced whether the positions will be restored. The senators are requesting immediate action to reinstate the affected employees before wildfire activity intensifies across the region.
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This is the only time these two idiots go to the feds is when they want something from the United States Citizens. I say replace these two worthless people and kotek and over half of the democrats in Salem and Oregon might have a chance for survival.