Forest Service Wildfire Staffing Numbers Under Scrutiny | JQJO

Rep. Robert Garcia is demanding that Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins clarify discrepancies between the Forest Service's claims of 99% wildland firefighter staffing and a ProPublica report revealing thousands of vacancies. ProPublica's investigation found that the Forest Service used misleading metrics, undercounting vacancies. Garcia's letter requests a full accounting of staffing levels and changes, citing concerns about the impact of Trump administration policies and the agency's contradictory statements. The Forest Service's response maintains full operational readiness despite evidence suggesting otherwise.