“In September, the agency announced that it would be suspending all seasonal hiring for the 2025 season, a decision that will cut about 2,400 jobs.”
The Forest Service manages 193 million acres and already has more trail than it can maintain. One recreation program drops from 13 employees to four. Hurricane Helene left more than 2,000 trees across the Appalachian Trail in Tennessee alone. The agency is cutting the crews right when the trails need them most.