23-02-2025
Northland senator calls on Trump to reverse U.S. Forest Service firings in Minnesota
With thousands of forestry workers among the Trump Administration's mass federal firings, one state senator from a heavily impacted district is urging the president to undo the decision.
Sen. Grant Hauschild, a DFLer who represents northeastern Minnesota including Hermantown and a chunk of St. Louis County, sent a letter on Thursday to President Donald Trump as well as U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber — a Republican whose district covers Hauschild's.
It comes after the Trump Administration embarked on the laying off of around 2,000 "probationary, non-firefighting" forest service employees. While it's not been made clear how many employees are impacted in each state, the Star Tribune reported this week that it includes staff at Voyageurs National Park in northern Minnesota.
Per a news release, Hauschild said the move "significantly impacts northern Minnesota, including the dedicated teams managing the Superior National Forest and Boundary Waters."
"These employees are more than just Forest Service Employees; they are Northern Minnesotans who are raising their families in our communities," said Hauschild in a statement. "Their roles are crucial in maintaining the delicate balance of our environment, preserving natural beauty, and ensuring public safety through forest management and conservation efforts. Without adequate staffing, the ability to manage these resources sustainably and safely is compromised, risking environmental degradation and economic loss."
Though the "total number of Minnesota Forest Service workers affected is unclear," the release notes, the Superior National Forest was already "100 staff short" before the job cuts, Hauschild's office claims.
The release says the firings directly impact the service's ability to "manage forestry, law enforcement, fire management and other critical duties."
'These cuts will only hurt Northern Minnesota," said Hauschild, per the release. "I urge President Trump to reverse this decision, and I call on Congressman Stauber to speak up and join me in fighting for our constituents."
