Congressman Neguse, Congresswoman Leger Fernandez, and Senator Heinrich introduce bills to place a moratorium on Reductions in Force at the USFS, the DOE, and the DOI
DENVER, CO (August 12, 2025) – The Continental Divide Trail Coalition (CDTC) is celebrating the introduction of a set of companion bills in the House of Representatives and the Senate which would place an immediate moratorium on Reductions in Force (RIFs) at the Department of the Interior, the US Forest Service (USFS), and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), allowing Congress time to conduct oversight and evaluate long-term staffing needs across federal agencies.
CDTC is grateful to the elected officials from Continental Divide Trail states that are co-sponsoring these bills, recognizing the critical role that the federal workforce plays in the management, enjoyment, and preservation of the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) and public lands. Senator Martin Heinrich, Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Representative Joe Neguse, Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee Federal Lands Subcommittee, and Representative Teresa Leger Fernández, Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs are each cosponsoring these bills.
Previous RIFs undertaken since January have resulted in a reduction in staff of 11% at the DOI and 25% at the USFS. As wildfires rage across the Mountain West and summer crowds flock to National Parks and other public lands, federal workers play an essential role in keeping lands and visitors safe. Along the Continental Divide Trail, federal employees play an essential role in trail management and maintenance, including building and maintaining the CDT and connecting trails, fighting wildfires, issuing permits, conducting search and rescue operations, and sharing information with visitors.
Federal employees are essential to the health, safety, and enjoyment of the CDT. The RIF moratorium bills that have been introduced would shield the CDT, the public lands it passes through, and the communities that depend on it for social, cultural, and economic benefits from further harm due to pernicious staffing cuts.
CDTC is calling on other elected officials from New Mexico, Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana to co-sponsor these bills, demonstrating the importance of federal staff at land management agencies to the economies, culture, and safety of each of these states. In particular, these bills present an opportunity for Representatives Russ Fulcher, Lauren Boebert, Harriet Hageman, Jeff Crank, and Jeff Hurd, as well as Senators John Barrasso, James Risch, and Steve Daines, as members of their respective chambers’ natural resources committees, to demonstrate that strong staffing at federal land management agencies is a bipartisan issue.
Three-quarters of voters across eleven Western states oppose cutting funding for federal land management agencies, demonstrating that the health of these agencies is deeply important to communities, regardless of political affiliation. CDTC hopes that elected officials from across the Mountain West will seize this opportunity to preserve jobs that bolster the safety, health, and culture of communities they represent.
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About the Continental Divide Trail
The CDT is one of the world’s premiere long-distance trails, stretching 3,100 miles from Mexico to Canada along the Continental Divide. Designated by Congress in 1978, the CDT is the highest, most challenging and most remote of the 11 National Scenic Trails. It provides recreational opportunities ranging from hiking to horseback riding to hunting for thousands of visitors each year. While 95% of the CDT is located on public land, approximately 160 miles are still in need of protection.
About the Continental Divide Trail Coalition
The Continental Divide Trail Coalition is the leading nonprofit partner working to complete, promote, and protect the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. Through advocacy, stewardship, and community engagement, CDTC ensures the CDT remains a treasured resource for adventure, conservation, and inspiration. Learn more at cdtcoalition.org.