Sponsors (8)
The bill quickly restores Forest Service staffing and keeps federally funded forest projects running—benefiting local economies, forest health, and reinstated workers—while reducing congressional oversight and budget flexibility and creating short-term administrative and funding trade-offs.
Rural communities, local governments, and recreation users keep access to Forest Service infrastructure, trails, facilities, and conservation projects funded under IIJA/GAOA and related laws, preserving service continuity and local economic activity.
Utilities, energy companies, and communities continue climate- and energy-related forest projects funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, supporting emissions reductions and energy-efficiency work on forest lands.
Federal employees who were involuntarily removed from the Forest Service between Jan 20 and Feb 25, 2025 will be reinstated to their jobs, restoring pay and employment status.
Taxpayers, local governments, and rural communities may have spending priorities effectively locked in because the bill authorizes continuation of funds and projects without fresh congressional review, reducing ability to revisit or redirect projects.
Redirecting previously appropriated funds to staffing, reinstatements, and continuing projects may limit availability of funds and administrative capacity for other Forest Service priorities, potentially crowding out different projects and future appropriations.
Reinstating employees and mandating rapid staffing increases could create short-term administrative burdens and costs and prompt rushed hiring or placements that do not align with long-term workforce planning, disrupting operations.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Directs Forest Service hiring and reinstatements using existing funds and affirms continuation authority for certain Forest Service projects funded under four laws.
Official title: Ensure that the Forest Service is fully staffed, and for other purposes.
Introduced March 11, 2025 by Mark Edward Kelly · Last progress March 11, 2025
Requires the Agriculture Secretary (Forest Service) to use previously appropriated funds to increase staffing for the health, diversity, and productivity of National Forest System lands and to reinstate Forest Service employees who were involuntarily removed or terminated between January 20, 2025 and February 25, 2025, both actions to occur “as soon as practicable.” It also affirms that the Secretary (and Interior for non-Forest Service agencies) may continue carrying out Forest Service projects funded or authorized under four named laws (Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, Great American Outdoors Act, IIJA, and the Inflation Reduction Act). The bill does not create new permanent funding or change the underlying statutes; it directs use of already-appropriated funds and confirms continuation authority for covered projects.