The U.S. Forest Service can hire firefighters this year after winning an exemption from President Trump’s civilian governmental employee hiring freeze.
On Friday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s acting deputy secretary Michael Young announced exemptions to “ensure a safe food supply, fire-safe communities, safe and secure public lands and rapid emergency response to natural and human-caused disasters,” according to a USDA press release.
“USDA and its sub-agencies will implement these exemptions only as needed and consistent with the intent of the president’s direction," it read. An attached file of exempted positions mentioned “Forest Service-wildland firefighting related” positions including fire management officer, fire planner/fire management specialist, assistant fire management officer/firefighter and cache manager.