Forest Service

The Trump administration's dramatic staffing cuts at federal lands agencies like the Forest Service are causing anxiety in tinder dry New Mexico, where the wildfire threat is already severe this Spring.

Forest Service ranger Kricket Olin was fired from her position in the mass layoffs last month via a form letter saying it was due to poor performance. Her firing leaves the high-alpine areas of the forest in Ouray County with fewer resources to patrol for safety and environmental purposes.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says it will reinstate thousands of workers laid off in February starting this Wednesday. That includes many hundreds of Forest Service workers across the Mountain West.