The hiking trails most Forest Service rangers work on feel far removed from the politics that play out in Washington, D.C. But they’re now a high-stakes political arena in the second Trump administration, as it has sought to downsize and decentralize the agency.
Waves of budget cuts, layoffs and buyouts in the last year have decimated the U.S. Forest Service, but the shutdown is testing its staff on a whole new level. The forests, along with national parks, remain open to the public, meaning recreational employees and visitor center staff are still cleaning bathrooms, answering phone calls, and handing out maps. Four weeks into a government shutdown, those that are left are still working – and many have yet to see a paycheck.
Many of the people most familiar with the workings of the agency are warning that this shutdown may push its workers past their wherewithal.