Is it just me or does this one feel like its gonna hit different from past furloughs?!
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There is a big difference between a furlough and a âRIFâ. As in the past, the furlough ends up being a paid time off. A âRIFâ is goodbye.
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FYI for those who may not know..
Excepted and Non-Excepted fire folks vary from agency to agency & region to region. Dont ask me why bcuz i dont get it either.
What this also means is that if/when you remove the " excepted primary fire personnel" from this discussion there are a great many positions that are really the meat & potatoes of the #firemachine! They are the ones writing grants, agreements & contracts etc. Theyâre the ones processing fire timesheets, doing procurement etc. Theyâre the ones filling finance, plans, logistics and operational positions on IMTâs. They are also in many many cases the militia upon which so much of the work & firefighting is accomplished. I could go on..
If ever there was a time to align & straighten out these dog-legs i would think its now - especially given all the talk/legislation about creating one âwildland fire serviceâ for america.
Im worried about all this and do not for one second feel like the adults in charge have a clue OR will do the right thing(s) here..
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If I understand the proposed action, it is to combine the existing Federal Wildland Fire resources into one service that will be led by fire folks, not upper level agency folks with no understanding nor experience in fire. Having all the resources following the same lead could be beneficial..
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Not knowing the scope of this realignment, I do have concerns about all of the support functions that will not have a vested interest in helping a new stovepiped agency/service/? Will the employees still retain agency affiliations? finance, HR benefits coordination, fleet, contracting etc are issues that will have to addressed, When the USFS A-76ed fleet management and HR was moved to Albuquerque, our level of service plumented and frustration was the norm for getting any help. I cannot imagine a DOI service center taking on the workload for USDA employees and vice a versa.
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As I understood, Wildland Fire will be the agency, no more USFS, BIA, BLM or USF&W firefighters. But as with all things governmental, â we will have to pass the bill to see what it includesâ. The intent is great, but as with sausage, no one wants to know how it is made..
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Well, imo the adults in charge are really outdoing themselves. Hey, donât blame me blame everyone else!? And they expect us to take them seriously.. #beyondsad
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Bit-o-news from Wildfire Today..
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Theres been zero updates for days from USDA, Forest Service and USDI. Seeing nothing new despite todays news that RIF-ing has begun..
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This is WH generated misinformation.
Perhaps.
However, imo the individuals doing all they can (and then some) to achieve the objectives in this document would disagree & argue viciously with you..
We will see/hear once the legacy news cycle catches up, new media starts reporting and/or individuals who are RIFâd start talking.
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After some more digging..
List of Deptâs & numbers for this round of RIFâs on pg 2 & 3 of the court filing..
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Imo..
Seems like hardly anyone cares about this unless itâs happening directly to you or a family member. Its become all the rage to openly sh*t on civil servants & their fed/state agencies. Itâs beyond sad & frustrating that things have devolved into the current state.
For what its worth I care AND appreciate you AND hope that any of our #wildlanders reading this kno that for sure im not the only person who does - regardless of how things feel/sound in your neck of the woods. Your situation is important to me, i hope you are getting by as best as you can - wish i was a billionaire bcuz iâd make sure your bills get paid while the political class play their games. If you are forced to leave your agency/job bcuz of the lingering shutdown i get it - iâm sorry!! Take care of yourselves & each other as best you can - lean into each other and the community even if itâs hard/awkward to do so. Try as best you can to focus/prioritize the objective from the subjective as you take on each new day. Easy for me to say that - not so easy to put into practice BUT you can do it and it will help - I promise!
From GROK when i asked âwhat is happening to our nations wildlanders during shutdownâ
Current U.S. Government Shutdown Status
As of October 25, 2025, the U.S. federal government is experiencing a partial shutdown that began on October 1, 2025, after Congress failed to pass a continuing resolution for fiscal year 2026 funding. This is now the third-longest shutdown in modern U.S. history, with no resolution in sight as partisan negotiations stall over spending priorities. The shutdown affects non-essential operations across agencies, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Department of the Interior (DOI), but essential services like wildfire response continue.
Impact on USFS and BLM Firefighters
US Forest Service (USFS) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) firefighters are classified as âexceptedâ personnel because their work protects life, property, and public safety. This means:
They continue working: Approximately 3,300 USFS wildland fire management personnel (out of ~15,600 excepted across USDA) and 3,300 BLM firefighters (out of ~5,250 total fire staff) remain on duty for suppression, preparedness, initial attack, and emergency response. Non-critical activities like large-scale fuels reduction, training, and prescribed burns are paused or reduced.
They are not being paid currently: Excepted employees must work without pay during the shutdown. Paychecks are deferred until funding is restored (retroactively, per past precedents), but there is no guaranteed immediate payment. This applies to both permanent and seasonal firefighters, exacerbating fatigue and financial strain amid ongoing wildfire risks.
|Agency|Total Employees|Furloughed|Excepted (Working Without Pay)|Key Impacts|
|USFS (USDA)|~32,390|~12,744|~15,600 (incl. 3,300 fire-specific)|Delayed state grants for preparedness; reduced reimbursements to local partners; paused forest inventories and special permits.
|BLM (DOI)|~9,250|~4,000â5,250|~3,300 fire management|
Limited aviation/ground resources; potential staffing shortages if shutdown prolongs; furloughs could expand to more fire support roles soon.
Broader Context and Risks
- Financial Hardship: Firefighters report working in hazardous conditions (e.g., long seasons, understaffing) without income, relying on savings or aid like gift cards from nonprofits. A proposed âFederal Firefighter Paycheck Protection Actâ (introduced September 30, 2025) aims to ensure pay during shutdowns but hasnât passed.
Operational Risks: Carryover funds from prior years support initial operations, but exhaustion could force shifts to unpaid âexceptedâ status only. This has already delayed wildfire prevention, potentially worsening future seasons.
Recent Reforms: Permanent pay raises (e.g., special salary tables from March 2025) help retention but donât address shutdown pay gaps.
If the shutdown ends soon (e.g., via a stopgap bill), back pay should be issued promptly. For updates, check official USDA or DOI sites. Firefighters facing hardship can access resources like the USDAâs Employee Assistance Program or local unions.
Edit to include this link for updated intel & resources..
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I have been told we will get paid this pay period which ends next week. after that no pay until shutdown ends. I would also like to add that I am still owed back pay from PP 6. difference in OT rates and IRPP. if the shut down goes a couple more pay periods I will be owed a significant amount. I"m sure iâll get interest for all that back pay too. God Bless America!
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