The United States is currently in a brutal wildfire season in 2025. According to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), 41,069 wildfires have burned almost 2.9 million acres of land as of July 22, already higher than the 10-year average for the number of fires. While acreage burned is slightly below the 3.3 million-acre average, the staffing crisis has become a bigger concern. Trump-era staff cuts have led to a situation where firefighters clean toilets amid a US wildfire surge, with critics saying US Forest Service (USFS) personnel are being diverted from frontline duties to custodial and administrative tasks.

Staffing Crisis Amid Wildfire Surge

About 5,000 USFS employees, 15% of the agency, took voluntary buyouts this year under “fork in the road” incentives. In addition, 3,400 probationary staff were laid off in early 2025. While wildland firefighters weren’t part of these cuts, the loss of foresters, dispatchers, and campground staff has stretched the system thin. Today, 35,000 employees are managing 193 million acres of land, just one for every 5,500 acres.

Firefighters clean toilets amid US wildfire surge, with many being diverted to mow lawns and answer phones instead of battling blazes, an issue that is affecting morale and preparedness.

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Direct Impact on Fire Response

Operational readiness is falling behind. In 2024, during Oregon’s Alder Spring Fire, crews reportedly lacked food and medical supplies for days due to understaffed logistics. In New Mexico and the Pacific Northwest, trained firefighters were assigned administrative desk work instead of being deployed to fires.

Retired fire chief Riva Duncan stated that hotshot crews and engines are now often undercrewed or unavailable, which limits national response capacity. Preventive measures, such as prescribed burning and firebreak construction, have also slowed. One laid-off biologist, Ben Vizzachero, was central to developing wildfire protection plans for California communities. His absence delayed them indefinitely.

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Government Response and Criticism

Despite the pressure, the USFS maintains that it is “adequately staffed” for the 2025 fire season. By June 29, the agency had hired 11,236 wildland firefighters, reaching 99% of its stated goal. USFS Chief Tom Schultz also plans to rehire 1,400 previously laid-off but fire-qualified personnel.

Still, many argue the agency has been “gutted.” Senator Martin Heinrich and Rep. Gabe Vasquez are calling for full reinstatement of laid-off workers and additional hiring. In March 2025, the Merit Systems Protection Board ruled that thousands of these layoffs be reversed, showing just how contentious these cuts have become.

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Wildfire Statistics (2021–2025)

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the situation with USFS staffing in 2025?

~5,000 employees took voluntary buyouts; and 3,400 were laid off. Although firefighting roles were retained, the total workforce is 30% smaller than in the 1990s.

2. How do these shortages impact wildfire response?

Firefighters are pulled away from fire duties to handle janitorial and office tasks. Response teams are limited; some can’t be deployed.

3. What is the government doing about it?

The USFS hired over 11,000 wildland firefighters and is working to rehire laid-off fire-qualified personnel, but funding is an ongoing challenge.

4. Will there be more firefighters this season?

Official numbers suggest hiring goals are almost met, but lawmakers want more surge staffing and support.

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