Senator Adam Schiff of California has formally requested that federal agencies exclude seasonal firefighters from the hiring freeze implemented by President Trump's executive order. In a letter addressed to the Department of Agriculture, the Department of the Interior, and the Office of Management and Budget, Schiff expressed concerns about the impact of the hiring freeze on wildfire preparedness, particularly in the wake of the devastating wildfires that recently impacted Southern California.

Schiff pointed out that the hiring freeze, while ostensibly not applying to public safety positions, has effectively stalled the onboarding of thousands of seasonal firefighters. He emphasized the vital role these firefighters play in protecting communities in fire-prone areas, stating that the delay contradicts the intent of the executive order. He specifically questioned why federal firefighters were not explicitly exempted.

Schiff's letter also requested data on the effects of the hiring freeze on federal firefighting applicants, including the number of voluntary resignations. He further inquired about the involvement of the Department of Government Efficiency, now under Elon Musk's leadership, in the hiring, training, and overall readiness of federal wildland firefighters.

Last month's wildfires in Southern California caused widespread destruction, claiming nearly 30 lives and destroying over 16,000 structures. Schiff stressed the importance of maintaining adequate firefighting capacity, especially given the increasing severity of wildfires. He argued that hindering the onboarding of new firefighters and potentially encouraging early retirements poses a significant risk to communities.

According to reports, some of the firefighters affected by the hiring freeze belong to agencies that participated in the response efforts to the Los Angeles area wildfires. A Bureau of Land Management official indicated that despite the executive order's exclusion of public safety positions, federal firefighters are not considered exempt from the hiring freeze.

Schiff concluded his letter by reiterating his concern for the safety of Californians and urging the agencies to prioritize the essential role federal firefighters play in protecting communities from wildfires.