Sponsors (8)
The bill secures short-term restoration of Forest Service staffing, park upkeep, and project momentum (and reinstates affected federal employees) using existing appropriations, but does so at the risk of diverting limited funds, reducing agency flexibility, and proceeding without added transparency or new public review.
Rural communities and the general public keep access to recreation and land-management services (trails, facilities, resource protection) without interruption because workforce capacity and ongoing projects are restored more quickly.
Federal employees who were terminated between Jan 20 and Feb 25, 2025 are reinstated with pay and benefits, restoring income and job security for those workers.
National Forest System lands receive more staffing to maintain ecological health and productivity for current and future generations.
Using only previously appropriated funds to implement these actions risks diverting money from other Forest Service programs or non-staff operational needs and could force partial implementation or shift agency attention away from new priorities.
Mandated reinstatements create administrative and potential legal costs and limit the Forest Service's flexibility to make workforce and management decisions.
The bill does not specify new funding or timelines, leaving taxpayers without greater transparency on costs, deadlines, or how shortfalls will be handled.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Requires the Agriculture Secretary to use funds already appropriated to increase Forest Service staffing to support the health and productivity of National Forest System lands and to reinstate any Forest Service employees who were involuntarily removed or terminated between January 20, 2025 and February 25, 2025. Directs that these actions occur "as soon as practicable" and be paid from existing appropriations. Also affirms the Secretary’s authority to continue carrying out Forest Service projects that are authorized or funded under four existing laws (the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, the Great American Outdoors Act, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022). The Act does not provide new funding amounts or set new deadlines.
Introduced March 11, 2025 by Mark Edward Kelly · Last progress March 11, 2025