Federal Review Could Reinstate Some Lincoln National Forest Jobs—But Uncertainty Remains
The Reader follows up with former and current public lands employees. Plus, local responders squelched a recent Cloudcroft village structure fire before it spread.
Last week, we reported on the sudden Lincoln National Forest (LNF) Service layoffs, which sources say cut the Sacramento Ranger District’s non-fire workforce by 30-40%.
There may be a temporary reprieve: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has been ordered to reinstate over 5,000 fired probationary employees for at least 45 days while federal boards investigate whether the terminations violated employment laws.
But for those who lost their jobs, the uncertainty lingers.
“It seems like everything's up in the air, but I guess it's like a glimpse of hope. Maybe we get to come back, but who's to say we come back—and then they just fire us again,” says one former local forest service technician.
They continue, “I definitely would come back. Even though I was laid off, I still believe in the mission of the Forest Service, and I'm proud to be affiliated with it, whether I'm employed there or not.”
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Fired Employees Received Bureaucratic Notices
The terminations were impersonal, with employees receiving form letters from Washington, D.C., signed by Deedra Fogle, the Director of Human Resource Management for the U.S. Forest Service.
The Reader obtained a copy of the termination letter sent to a former LNF employee, which states:
“The Agency finds, based on your performance, that you have not demonstrated that your further employment at the Agency would be in the public interest. For this reason, the Agency informs you that the Agency is removing you from your position… effective immediately.”
Employees were indiscriminately fired despite having moved, relocated, or made career changes based on their federal positions. The letters did not mention any specific reasons for dismissal beyond vague language about performance.
View the letter in full:
Although a federal hiring freeze remains in place with few exemptions, one current LNF employee states that seasonal firefighter and hotshot hiring paperwork is still “going through,” with the LNF’s Smokey Bear Hotshots set to start as early as this week.
Analysis: Layoffs Pose Potential Economic Threat
Lincoln National Forest plays a critical economic role in Otero County. Outdoor recreation, such as biking, hiking, hunting, and camping, generates business for Cloudcroft’s restaurants, lodges, and small businesses.
New Mexico’s public lands—such as the Lincoln National Forest and nearby Gila National Forest, White Sands, Guadalupe, and Carlsbad Caverns National Parks—are major drivers of local economies. Across the state, outdoor recreation had an economic impact of $3.2 billion for New Mexico in 2023.
The Trump administration’s General Services Administration (GSA) plans to cancel the leases for 32 National Park Service buildings, including the visitor center for Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument, just two hours north of Cloudcroft. Terminations are also proposed for 12 Forest Service and 44 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service leases.
The proposed cuts extend beyond visitor centers to law enforcement offices and museums. This week, the GSA posted and then deleted (as of March 5th) a list of "non-core" government buildings that could be sold.
Despite multiple requests for comment, Lincoln National Forest officials have not issued any statements on the impact of recent layoffs. No guidance has been provided on how services will be affected, whether visitor amenities will remain open, or if fire mitigation efforts will continue at full capacity.
Structure Fire Breaks Out in Cloudcroft Evening of Emergency Fire Meeting
On Thursday, March 6, shortly after the Cloudcroft Village Council held an emergency meeting to discuss fire danger rating measures, a structure fire broke out within the village limits in the Woodlands Way neighborhood behind Big Daddy’s Diner.
Mayhill VFD Fire Chief Cody Welchel and officials on the scene confirmed that the Cloudcroft Volunteer Fire Department, Otero County Office of Emergency Services, the High Rolls Volunteer Fire Department, and U.S. Forest Service hotshots responded.
One structure was affected—the cabin’s owners lost their family home to the blaze. There were no reported fatalities, and all occupants, including pets, were safely evacuated.
Eyewitnesses reported that gusting southwest winds contributed to embers spreading during the fire's peak.
Hotshots established a perimeter near the fire. Sources indicate that they contained several small spot fires ignited by flying embers. Officials say one ember start was put out a surprising distance away, at the junction of highways 244 and 82.
During the emergency council meeting earlier in the day, Cloudcroft Volunteer Fire Chief Erich Wuersching noted that this fire season has been warmer and drier than in previous years. Luckily, local emergency responders were prepared and worked efficiently to contain the fire.
We will follow this story and post any new developments.
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Check out our recent coverage of the National Forest:
Forest Employees Get the Axe as Trump Layoffs Hit Cloudcroft’s Backyard
Something’s Burning: Protecting Cloudcroft Where Wildland and Village Meet
A Day in the Life: Revealing Visit with Our Own Sacramento Hotshots, Now Battling Ruidoso Fires
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