Sen. Adam SchiffD-Calif., Called on several federal agencies to release the federal seasonal fire winkers from the executive command of President Donald Trump, who implements a federal recruitment freeze.
In a letter to the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of the Interior and the Office of Management and Budget, Schiff noted that Freeze Trump’s recruitment Published on January 20, it was stopped on board thousands of seasonal fires who can harm the willingness to respond to forest fires, because South California is still struggling with the aftermath of last month’s forest fires.
“The memo issued on January 20 states that it does not apply to functions with regard to public safety, but this onboarding delay is directly in violation of that claim,” Schiff said in the letter from Friday. “Our voters and communities rely on the hard work and sacrifice our more than 15,000 seasonal federal wildland fire brigades every year.”
Los Angeles Fire victims to be started from Rode Cross Shelter to make room for film teams, events
Adam Schiff talks to the media after voting in McCambridge Recreation Center in Burbank on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
“Seasonal firefighters are essential for the public safety of those who live in fire -sensitive areas, and I am alerted that federal firefighters are not a party to this exemption,” he said. “In the light of this, I ask for information from your agencies in which it is explained why the federal hiring freezing has expanded to hire seasonal federal Willand firesmen.”
South California was destroyed by two last month Large forest fires And several smaller ones who killed nearly 30 people and destroyed more than 16,000 structures.
Some of the firefighters who are subject to the Order of Trump who stopped onboarding of thousands of seasonal federal firefighters were of agencies that helped in response to the forest fires in the Los Angeles area, according to NBC News.
A fireman works a fire during the Eaton Fire on Wednesday, January 8, 2025 in Altadena, California. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times via Getty images)
An official from the Bureau of Land Management told the outlet that, despite the command of Trump, excluding functions with regard to “public safety” of the recruitment freezer, federal firefighters are not exempt.
“In the light of ever -destructive forest fires, we cannot afford to reduce the tools at our disposal to combat these fires,” Schiff said in his letter. “Hindering federal firefighters and encouraging the early retirement of others, threatens the fire control capacity of California and brings communities with great risk. Californians trust the support of federal firefighters, and I hope you share my appreciation for the essential role in The essential role that these individuals play in residents keep safe.
Tables switch on Los Angeles arson in Caughter-on-cam Takedown: ‘Wrong Neighborhood, Buddy’
Vehicles and a house burned as powerful winds that feed devastating forest fires in the vicinity of Los Angeles, forced people to evacuate the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, January 8, 2025. (Reuters/David Swanson)
Click here to get the Fox News app
The Senator also asked for information about how the recruitment has freze consequences for federal fire-fighting recipients, the number of voluntary dismissal and the department of government efficiency led by the Elon Musk in recruitment, readyness or willingness of federal Willand fire brigaders.
