We've had some folks contact us with concerns about the recent cuts, understandably worried about how they might affect the planting of our 2025 trees this Spring/Summer.
Here is what we know for sure:
*The current administration has attempted to freeze funding for hiring and other programs in federal agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service. They have also attempted to lay off thousands of Forest Service employees.
*The legality of these funding cuts is in question, so there is a lot of confusion around exactly which cuts and lay-offs will be enforced and permanent. Recently at least some of the laid-off employees were able to return to their jobs.
*The cuts may impact both wildfire mitigation projects across the U.S. as well as reforestation projects that plant new trees.
*At this time the dedicated folks at the Forest Service are using all possible plans and resources to get our trees planted this year on Sequoia National Forest, and we are incredibly grateful to them.
We'll keep you posted on any major changes, otherwise planting will move forward and we'll be updating this page and also sending out a Tree Update email this summer with photos of the baby trees, videos of the planting location, maps and driving directions.
Sources
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-forest-service-fires-3400-workers-park-service-cuts-1000-2025-02-14/#:~:text=%22Protecting the people and communities, USDA said in a statement.
https://www.npr.org/2025/03/06/nx-s1-5312069/trump-federal-funding-freeze-court-order
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy7x382je03o
https://www.npr.org/2025/03/15/nx-s1-5328721/reduction-in-force-rif-federal-workers-job-cuts-musk-doge-layoffs
https://apnews.com/article/wildfire-firefighters-trump-federal-hiring-freeze-b9e12f2a439d9e40da099b3e6075f832
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