Sponsors (32)
The bill quickly restores Forest Service staff and keeps infrastructure and conservation projects running—benefiting rural communities, recreation users, and wildfire management—but does so by locking in federal spending and limiting agency and oversight flexibility, which raises fiscal, legal, and local-environmental trade-offs.
Federal Forest Service employees who were removed are reinstated quickly, restoring jobs and pay and stabilizing household income for those federal workers and their communities.
Restored Forest Service staffing improves on-the-ground land management (trails, habitat, wildfire prevention), which reduces wildfire risk and protects property, public safety, and ecosystem health for recreation users and nearby communities.
Rural communities and local governments keep receiving ongoing Forest Service projects and the associated local jobs and contractor work, supporting local economies.
Taxpayers may remain financially liable for continued project activity and reinstated payroll without new oversight or reauthorization, which can lock in federal spending and reduce funds available for other priorities.
Reinstating workers without individualized review could create administrative or legal challenges (for-cause terminations, personnel disputes), producing personnel-management disruption and potential litigation costs.
The bill may limit the Forest Service's ability to reallocate resources or pause projects pending policy review or shifting priorities, reducing agency flexibility to respond to new information or budget realities.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Directs USDA to quickly increase Forest Service staffing, reinstate certain terminated employees, and continue existing Forest Service projects using available funds.
Introduced May 21, 2025 by Joseph Neguse · Last progress May 21, 2025
Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to quickly restore and sustain Forest Service workforce and to keep existing Forest Service projects running. Within 30 days of enactment the Secretary must increase staffing needed for health, diversity, and productivity of National Forest System lands and reinstate any Forest Service employees who were involuntarily removed or terminated between January 20, 2025 and the date of enactment, using previously appropriated funds. The Secretary must also continue carrying out ongoing Forest Service projects that have authorized or appropriated funding under several named laws.