Recent mass layoffs in the U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service have caused widespread concern. Many federal employees are reeling. Annelise Waling was terminated on 16th February. She described it as deeply disturbing, but she had expected this feeling given the recent changes in government.
Waling was one of the approximately 3,400 USFS probationary workers who lost their job in the last week. According to the Associated Press, the Department of Government Efficiency, which reportedly oversaw the layoffs of approximately 1,000 National Park Service employees, was also responsible for the process.
Waling, 25, said: “I felt heartbroken. I was distraught.” This was a wonderful opportunity that made me feel incredibly satisfied. It made me feel like I had positively contributed to society, and that’s what I look for in a job. She showed deep regret over her abrupt exit.
These layoffs are a cause for concern, especially when you consider the important role that national parks have in the U.S. economic system. Recently, the NPS reported In 2023, 325,5 million visitors will spend $26.4 billion on the surrounding areas. The spending generated 415 400 jobs, and $55.6 Billion in revenue for the U.S.
Theresa Pierno said that the National Parks Conservation Association’s President and CEO, Theresa Pierno stated, “National Parks have never been more popular.” Every year, millions upon millions of Americans enjoy our parks. Pierno also added that cuts to the NPS could cause facilities to diminish “If people aren’t having those quality experiences, or those bathrooms aren’t open, or the visitor centers aren’t available, and there aren’t enough park rangers—that can really affect the quality of people’s visits and may deter [them] Visitor’s reluctance to visit. It is not only the parks that suffer, but the local communities as well.
Pierno stated that the National Park Service had experienced an approximately 28 percent reduction in staff since 2010, due to Congress’s consistent underfunding. It is important to note the long-term effects of recent layoffs, both on the experience of visitors and on the stability of the communities that depend on park tourism.
Some of the most recent hires in federal employment may be on probation. Others who have been with an agency for a long time and are moving to a new role or promotion. The probationary period can vary from 1 to 2 years depending on which agency you are working for. These abrupt terminations have left many wondering about the reasons and processes involved.
Some employees were notified in advance of impending job loss, but many more learned the news through unofficial channels such as Reddit or group chats for specific industries.
According to reports, many employees were terminated because of their failure to perform duties in the “public interest”. The blanket explanation has caused further concern and frustration among the affected.
Waling claimed in an online post that her and her colleagues had been “illegally terminated” by pointing out possible violations to federal regulations.
The U.S. Federal Code, Section 315.804, stipulates that the agency must have documented reasons to terminate a probationary worker, such as performance evaluations and counseling records. A mandatory notice requirement is also in place. In many cases, the absence of this documentation raises questions as to the legality.
Waling said, “I was pretty furious because we were all fired on grounds of poor performances, and I had no records of that.” Waling served two years of probationary service through the Presidential Management Fellows Program. I have received very positive performance evaluations. The direct supervisor of mine thought I was not fired because they took my performance into consideration.
Angela Moxley shared this feeling when she worked as an NPS biological science technician for one year at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (West Virginia), a vast 3,700-acre park. Moxley was responsible for vital conservation, including protecting forests, grasslands and wetlands against invasive species and supporting endangered animals. Moxley stressed the demands of this work and the commitment required to achieve a permanent position at the federal level.
Moxley said that these jobs were not glamorous. Moxley explained, “You crawl through poison ivy-covered shrubs and get stung.” The competitive nature of the job market in these agencies was also stressed by her. It’s hard to find a job. We compete against people who we already know.
Claire Sneed is a hydrologic technician who graduated from Ohio State University in 2024. She began working full-time in the Bridger-Teton National Forest, Wyoming in June of that year. Sneed expressed her disbelief at the rationale provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, calling it “bulls***.”
Since I was emotionally prepared, [previous administrations’] Sneed reflected on the uncertainties surrounding employment in federal government. “Me and all my other co-workers…were all watching very closely to what was happening with executive orders and the federal hiring freeze. “It was a kind of slow acceptance of reality.”
This impact extends well beyond positions at entry-level. Stephanie Teasley was a University of Michigan professor who had worked for the National Science Foundation. Stephanie returned to NSF as a consultant/expert specializing on data science education in August of 2024. On February 18, she and others were suddenly locked out from virtual meetings. It was later revealed that this was due to the loss of their jobs.
Karl Rockne was also blindsided when he heard the bad news. He is the director of NSF’s environmental engineering program in Alexandria, Virginia. He was responsible for a large research portfolio. His budget totaled $100 million and he also managed 250 projects. Ses responsibilities included identifying projects and funding them that would advance science and be beneficial to society.
Rockne was an expert on contaminants that are of growing concern such as PFAS, and toxic algal blooms. His role is critical in addressing urgent environmental issues. Rockne, despite his status as a permanent employee at NSF with two prior stints in the agency’s employ, was fired on probation for the first time by the agency on the 18th of February. This decision left him “shocked.” His managers were not responsive when he asked for clarification.
Rockne was given only two hours notice before he and other users were locked out. In an effort to minimize the impact of his abrupt departure, he managed to contact program directors and share files.
Rockne said that the firings of NSF employees left the organization without the talent needed to make decisions about funding which benefitted the American public. NSF-supported research led to 268 Nobel laureates. The scientific innovations that NSF investment supported would have been impossible without so many modern conveniences. “There is no guarantee the U.S. can continue to be a leader in scientific innovation. Without innovation, talent, resources, and other factors will flow abroad.”