Reps. Neguse and Huffman Introduce the Public Lands Workforce Stability Act

Washington, D.C. — Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse, Ranking Member of the Federal Lands Subcommittee and Congressman Jared Huffman, Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee, recently introduced the Public Lands Workforce Stability Act, a bill to prohibit mass terminations at our land management agencies, including the Department of Interior (DOI) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). 

Since the start of 2025, the Trump administration has eliminated tens of thousands of jobs through the Reduction in Force (RIFs) of federal employees, leaving agencies unable to meet basic obligations due to staffing shortages. With fewer personnel across the board, DOI and USFS are in weakened positions to address threats such as wildfires; complete important construction and maintenance projects; continue programs designed to protect communities, vital watersheds, and wildlife habitats; and more. 

The Public Lands Workforce Stability Act extends the moratorium on layoffs that congressional Democrats were able to put in place after Republicans’ disastrous 43-day government shutdown last year. Specifically, the bill reinstitutes and extends the ban on RIFs covering DOI and USFS until the end of Fiscal Year 2030. 

“Extreme weather conditions, drought, and unprecedented fire risk, coupled with staffing shortages across the Interior Department and Forest Service, have placed our public lands and the civil servants that protect them in a dangerous position — the consequences of which are real and immediate,” said Congressman Neguse. “The Public Lands Workforce Stability Act halts these attacks on our hard-working public servants and safeguards this workforce’s ability to manage critical programs that safeguard natural resources, protect communities, fight wildfires, and more. It is imperative that we have a fully staffed workforce to care for our most treasured public lands.” 

“The Forest Service and National Park Service have both lost nearly a quarter of their staff since Donald Trump took office. At a time when our public lands and nearby communities are struggling with a water, climate, and wildfire crises, we cannot afford to lose any more expertise. I'm proud to join Representative Neguse in this effort to stop the Trump administration's efforts to hollow out our public land management agencies. This bill reasserts Congress’ role in overseeing these agencies, their programming, and their staff,” said Ranking Member Huffman. 

President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) hit Colorado’s public lands workforce harder than any other state, with Colorado ranking 1st nationally in total public land agency job losses. Across federal land management agencies, including the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, and Fish and Wildlife Service, employment of Colorado residents dropped by more than 1,700 in 2025 — a 26% reduction in the public lands workforce.

The bill is endorsed by the Conservation Lands Foundation, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, National Parks Conservation Association, Sierra Club, Grassroots Wildland Firefighters, Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, Trust for Public Land, and the Association of National Park Rangers.

Statements of support and additional information on the Public Lands Workforce Stability Act, can be found HERE. 

Congressman Neguse has been leading efforts to block the Trump administration’s attacks on the federal workforce responsible for fighting wildfires, managing public lands, protecting water, advancing clean energy, and honoring tribal obligations. In August 2025, he joined top Democrats from the Natural Resources Committee in introducing an initial series of bills that would put a stop to the abuse of RIFs to carry out mass firings at DOI and USFS. He also proposed landmark legislation that would direct the administration to rehire National Park Service (NPS) and USFS staffers wrongfully terminated as part of Trump’s DOGE initiative. 

In October 2025, Rep. Neguse led his colleagues in a letter demanding the administration immediately cease using the Republican shutdown as a pretext to fire thousands more federal employees.  

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