Protect Park and Forest Jobs Through 2030

Summary#

• This bill would pause most layoffs at the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Forest Service through September 30, 2030.

• The goal is to keep a stable workforce that manages national parks, forests, and other public lands.

• Key points:

  • Blocks any agency-wide layoff action (called a “reduction in force,” or RIF) at Interior or the Forest Service unless top members of Congress’s budget committees approve it first.
  • Stops most involuntary separations (non-disciplinary removals) of career employees unless it is for misconduct, delinquency, or poor performance.
  • Requires prior notification and approval from the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees before any RIF or covered involuntary separation.
  • Covers competitive service employees, career staff in the excepted service, and career Senior Executive Service (most career civil servants).
  • Does not change pay, benefits, hiring, or voluntary departures. Firing “for cause” (misconduct or performance) is still allowed.

What it means for you#

• Workers at Interior or the U.S. Forest Service

  • Your job is protected from layoffs and most non-disciplinary removals until September 30, 2030, unless top congressional budget leaders approve an exception.
  • You can still be removed for cause (misconduct, delinquency, or performance).
  • Voluntary actions like resigning or retiring are unchanged.
  • The protections specifically name competitive service and career staff in the excepted service and Senior Executive Service.

• Political appointees, contractors, and temporary/term staff

  • The bill’s involuntary-separation protections focus on most career civil servants. It does not mention non-career appointees or contractors, or what happens when a temporary appointment ends.
  • RIFs are broadly restricted across the agencies, but the bill does not expand contractor or temporary worker protections.

• Local communities and public land users

  • Parks, refuges, forests, and offices may see steadier staffing, which can help keep services, permits, and maintenance more consistent.

• Agency managers

  • You cannot use RIFs or most non-disciplinary removals to restructure without advance approval from the top House and Senate Appropriations leaders.
  • Performance- or misconduct-based removals remain available.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

• Helps keep wildfire, park, and land management teams intact during a period of high need and long backlogs.
• Reduces sudden service cuts at parks and forests by avoiding large, unexpected layoffs.
• Protects career civil servants from politically driven or budget-driven shakeups that can harm morale and expertise.
• Saves on turnover and training costs by keeping experienced staff in place.
• Provides predictability for rural towns and gateway communities that depend on stable federal jobs.

Opponents' View#

• Limits basic management tools to align staffing with budgets, workload, or reorganization needs.
• Could increase payroll costs by preventing downsizing even when funding is tight.
• Puts routine personnel decisions behind approvals from a few lawmakers, which critics say could slow or politicize management.
• May lock in outdated staffing patterns and make it harder to shift resources to new priorities.
• Agencies might respond with hiring freezes or greater use of contractors, which some argue could reduce accountability.