The federal government’s workforce is shrinking as part of former President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk’s joint efforts to streamline federal spending. This initiative is hitting close to home for Wyoming, impacting local communities and the federal employees who serve them.
Across the nation, the U.S. Forest Service has terminated around 3,400 employees, and the National Park Service (NPS) has followed suit with an estimated 1,000 job cuts, according to Reuters. These layoffs primarily affect probationary employees, who are typically within their first 1-2 years of service. Official figures for the Wyoming region remain unavailable despite repeated inquiries to both agencies.
Layoffs Hit Wyoming’s Forest Service Hard
Bill Lee, a resident of Lander and former seasonal worker with the Washakie District of Shoshone National Forest, revealed that eight employees from his district have been let go. This accounts for half the district’s office staff, the largest reduction among all national forest districts in Wyoming, according to Lee.
“Most of the people who’ve been let go are the boots-on-the-ground workers,” Lee said. “They’re the ones interacting daily with the public, ensuring policies are implemented—not the ones writing the policies or making big management decisions.”
Positions impacted include roles like trail packers and ATV managers, but even full-time employees haven’t been spared. Lee noted that two year-round staffers were among those let go. Meanwhile, the Bridger-Teton National Forest has yet to finalize the number of layoffs in its own workforce.
Who’s Affected?
Probationary employees aren’t just newcomers. As Lee explained, long-serving employees who were recently promoted or transferred into new roles also fall under this category. In fact, a policy from the Biden administration that converted many long-term seasonal workers into permanent seasonal employees has inadvertently led to their inclusion in these layoffs.
Notably, the cuts have spared fire responders, critical for wildfire management. However, Lee emphasized the arbitrary nature of the terminations. “Performance didn’t matter. These cuts feel wholesale and indiscriminate.”
Fear and Silence Within the Forest Service
The layoffs have left federal employees apprehensive about their future. According to Lee, fear of retribution has stifled communication within the Forest Service. Employees are wary of leaving a paper trail, choosing phone calls over emails to avoid possible backlash.
“There’s a lot of fear—people are watching what they say,” Lee shared. “It feels like a slow-motion coup.”
Cody resident Kristie Thompson, a long-time Forest Service employee, took to Facebook to voice her concerns. In an emotional post, she described the daily stress of not knowing whether she would lose another team member—or her own career. “Without us ‘parasites,’ as some have called us, basic services like access to federal lands or Social Security assistance could disappear,” she wrote.
What’s Driving the Cuts?
The downsizing is part of Trump’s campaign to cut government waste. Federal employees in Wyoming number around 8,100, and the reduction efforts could have long-term implications for the state.
In January, a memo from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management outlined voluntary resignation offers to federal employees, allowing them paid leave through September if they chose to quit. Those who stayed were warned about the uncertainty of their positions. A hiring freeze implemented on January 20 further compounded the issue, rescinding thousands of job offers for seasonal workers.
While Wyoming’s congressional delegation has supported Trump’s agenda, the effects on local communities remain a contentious topic. U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis praised the rapid changes, saying, “It’s a new day in Washington.”
Impact on National Parks and Local Businesses
The National Park Service, a separate entity under the Department of Interior, has also faced cuts. Though some seasonal law enforcement roles are exempt, many other positions remain unfilled due to the hiring freeze.
This is already causing challenges for parks like Devils Tower National Monument, which heavily depends on seasonal staff to manage its five-month peak season. Gabe Skiera, who operates a bed and breakfast near the park, is concerned about how the reduced workforce will manage the 500,000 annual visitors.
“If they can’t hire seasonal staff, the park may have to shut down two days a week,” Skiera said. “That’s nearly 30% of the summer season lost—it would devastate our local economy.”
Seasonal workers are essential for park operations, performing tasks like visitor outreach, search and rescue, and trash removal. Without adequate staffing, the burden falls entirely on a skeleton crew of permanent employees.
Mixed Reactions
While some officials, like former Interior Assistant Secretary Rob Wallace, argue that the severity of the cuts is exaggerated, others, including affected workers, see the layoffs as a heavy-handed approach.
“Elon Musk’s remarks about the cuts affecting the so-called ‘parasite class’ only add insult to injury,” Thompson said. “We’re the ones ensuring public services run smoothly.”
Despite these challenges, the broader implications of Trump’s downsizing efforts remain unclear. As communities like Cody, Jackson, and Lander brace for the ripple effects, questions persist about the future of federal employment in Wyoming.
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