I excerpted from the letter which is available here. I strongly support their advice to write things down as soon as you can, and to save the stuff you may need from your computer, or copy the whole hard drive and sort through it later. What do you have to lose? Anyway, here is an excerpt from the statement of support…
To current Forest Service employees, we appreciate your service in producing valued benefits for the American people. We encourage you to stay proud and strong in your commitment to the agency mission. Forest Service retirees are here to support you.
To employees adversely affected by current workforce actions, we value your public service. We are heartbroken by the sudden, severe impacts on you and your families.
To NAFSR members and other Forest Service retirees, we urge you to support agency employees by offering assistance with navigating existing workforce challenges. We ask you to join us in advocating on behalf of the workforce by engaging at all levels in support of public land management. We also encourage you to support other organizations working to assist Federal civil servants.
Here’s the complete Resource Guide:
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Here are some recommendations from the National Association of Forest Service Retirees (NAFSR) and resources for Forest Service employees who may be faced with sudden notice of termination, administrative leave, reduction in force, or other job changes:
- Continue to do your job. Until you are notified of a change, continue doing your job to the best of your ability.
- Document what happens to you. During highly stress situations, it is difficult to remember details of how things happened, what you were told, and who was there. Take time to write a “memo for the record” as soon as possible after you are given verbal directions that significantly change your job status, conditions of work, and the work you are normally assigned. Document what you were told, when, by whom, and who else was there to hear the conversation. Retain these notes for future reference.
- Anticipate the loss of computer access. If you are terminated or placed in a leave status, expect to immediately lose access to your email, computer systems, and internal intranet and Sharepoint information.
- Gather Your Personal Records and Contacts. Take these actions NOW, before you lose agency computer access.
- Download to a personal drive and keep copies of your personal employment records (you may also request copies from the HRM Contact Center):
- Your recent performance plans and ratings
- Your electronic Official Personnel File (eOPF), especially SF 50 Notifications of Personnel Action documenting your appointment type and job assignment, including pay plan, occupational series, grade, step, salary, and service computation date (SCD). The SCD is a key factor in a reduction in force (RIF) action.
- Your position description and organization chart where you are assigned
- Your most recent earnings and leave statement (ELS) showing balances for your leave and any credit hours.
- Your most recent benefits statements from CONNECTHR showing health insurance (FEHB), life insurance (FEGLI), Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), and retirement details.
- Ensure you have phone, email, and public web site information for supervisors, colleagues, and organizations you may need to contact after you leave.
- Be ready to gather personal items at the office in case of a short-notice dismissal.
- Download to a personal drive and keep copies of your personal employment records (you may also request copies from the HRM Contact Center):
- Is your position in a union bargaining unit? Check with your supervisor or check the bargaining unit code on your SF-50. If your code is NOT 7777 (exempt), then your position is likely covered by a union contract and you can contact a union representative for help, even if you are not a dues-paying member. Over 20,000 jobs are covered under the master agreement between Forest Service and the National Federation of Federal Employees – Forest Service Council (https://www.nffe-fsc.org/). A small number of jobs are in units covered by the American Federation of Government Employees (https://www.afge.org/about-us/agencies/USDA/AFGE).
- If you are notified of termination or other personnel action, ask questions about anything you need clarity on, including the reasons for the change, what happens to your leave, timesheet, and benefits, and if you have appeal rights.
- If you are placed on administrative leave, ask:
- Who is your point of contact if you have questions during the leave period?
- Who will be updating and approving your timesheet and what will happen to your accrued annual leave and credit hours?
- Will your health and life insurance, retirement and TSP contributions continue?
- What options do you have to continue FEHB health insurance when your job ends?
- Can you access your TSP funds when your job ends?
- Are you eligible for early, optional, discontinued service, or deferred retirement?
- Ask about the Forest Service Employee Assistance Program (EAP). The following info is currently available on the public Forest Service web page.
| The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers free professional guidance to you and your family members when personal or work-related problems become difficult to manage.
Working with the EAP to find solutions to problems or develop better coping techniques will help you navigate life’s difficulties. Take advantage of free assessments, short-term counseling, and referral information. o Life adjustments o Childcare referral o Substance abuse o Relationship issues o Eldercare resources o Marital and family problems o Financial matters o Emotional issues o Crisis o Legal issues o Work problems o Stress This service is available to all employees and their families. Further, employees and their families may continue to use the EAP for up to six months after separation from employment. EAP company name: Acentra o Call: 1-833-621-2989 Acentra offers a toll-free line answered by certified clinicians 24 hours a day, seven days per week. Clinicians with experience supporting first responders (fire and law enforcement) will also be available to help you. o Text the EAP: 1-833-621-2989 o Web: https://forestserviceeap.com/ (Member login/Company ID: USFS) o App: Acentra Connect (Install on work or personal cell phone using Google Play or the App Store.
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- Talk to your family about what could happen and what options you might have if you lose your job. What options do you have for health care and paying monthly bills if you lose your job?
- Are you eligible for retirement now, early, or deferred? There are numerous scenarios in which you may be eligible to retire. This article from govexec.com explains how to navigate retirement amid the current chaos.
- Get help with federal benefits and retirement questions. The National Association of Active and Retired Federal Employees narfe.org has loads of information on federal employee benefits including webinars, FAQs, and pending and proposed legislation applicable to current, former, and retired employees.
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We retirees care and want to help! If you think this is helpful information, please forward to any employees you know.
NAFSR:
Thank you so much for your help. I have never seen such a short-sighted Administration in my entire professional life. I worked for nine (9) President’s while with and for the federal government. While I might have disagreed with some of their policies, I was always very proud to be of service to them and the American people. I am so embarrassed, sad, and angry for this idiotic attack on the government workforce and lawful order. I hope clearer minds will prevail and once again America can work within the boundaries of common sense, good will, respect and kindness. We are so much better than this. Thank you again for your thoughtful guidance.
This is really good information and I am glad that NAFSR put this together. I just joined them a couple of months ago and I’m glad I did. From what I can gather, everyone is getting a notification that says they were let go due to poor performance even though there is no record of poor performance. The FS cannot get away with that. Everyone should be appealing to the MSPB. This may take a while but I think they will likely be able to get their jobs back with back pay and legal fees if they have any. They could also consider joining a class action lawsuit if that arises. They should not give up!
The guidance is very helpful for current employees; thanks to the people who compiled it! I wish there’d been info like this available when Senator Hatfield’s “Timber Buyback” legislation slashed the FS budget in Region 6 in 1985-86. I turned down a Directed Reassignment and found other good work to do.
>>> The bigger question is, Are we going to tolerate this gutting of our civil service and numerous agencies? The effort to make our federal government more “efficient” is in the hands of a wealthy man whose companies already profit greatly from federal contracts! By gutting agencies that individual is setting himself up for more federal contracts.
Can you say massive Conflict of Interest?
How do you feel about having your private information be accessed by unvetted, college kids who have no reason, and NO training, to protect your privacy?
Breaking News: Musk’s DOGE seeks access to personal taxpayer data, raising alarm at IRS
Washington Post, Feb. 16, 2025
My Dad was proud of his service in the US Marine Corps in the invasion of Iwo Jima. I imagine others of you had family members who fought to defend us from authoritarian regimes.
>>. How did we get here to having a “president” who leans so hard into authoritarian policies?
Yes, I think this is relevant for TSW because the current context for federal land management is shifting so dramatically. USFS, BLM and other agencies are NOT in a vacuum. Agency leaders and every other employee will be affected by the tone of direction from Washington, D.C..
The lawyer in this article doesn’t sound too encouraging that the fired employees will have any recourse. I hope he’s wrong. I believe the unions are taking this on as well.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/it-s-a-lie-federal-workers-incensed-by-performance-language-in-termination-letters/ar-AA1zcrmN?ocid=msedgntp&pc=ACTS&cvid=f348bf4041304f5dd98399c515a20abe&ei=36
Id like to thank NAFSR for this!
I’m also appreciative of the nieghbors, conservation organizations, recreation companies and fish and bullet folks who have pushed back against the purge of public land managers.
I’m curious as to why the timber industry has been silent thusfar.
We don’t know that they have, do we? I’ll check.
Hi Sharon,
Just a note that I’m seeing many public statements from a number of agency partners and stakeholders. But here in the Northwest the AFRC has been mum on the purge of federal employees and the ramifications for public lands management. Also, if memory serves, not too long ago AFRC proposed privatizing BLM forests throughout Western Oregon. If there are members of the timber industry who are standing up for the ability of public land managers to manage public lands I would very much like to hear about it. Thanks!
Here’s the story from AFRC:
“AFRC is one of the few trade associations that consistently lobbies Congress for adequate funding and staffing levels for both the Forest Service and the BLM. We are working to assess impacts to the regions and forests we monitor, and will take action accordingly.”
Just want to leave a comment that it is terrible what is happening to USFS, and other federal, employees. Creating disruption and confusion is no way to make improvements. And, this is no way to treat our fellow human beings. Thanks for sharing this.
Polls are showing not a lot of sympathy from the general public on the federal employee purge. It certainly is not well thought out for making anything but lawyers rich! I think the FS is too top heavy, so we cut the legs off the beast? Holy crap….. As I’ve said before, there must be a plan somewhere to actually improve the outfit!
Sadly, Jim, a big portion of the public believes the unfounded stereotypes of federal employees, that they are lazy, somehow getting rich in their jobs, on and on. They now look on with glee when federal employees are getting the axe. It does not help that a lot of our politicians reinforce the stereotype. My Senator, John Thune, often denigrates federal employees and the FS is a particular target of his. And he is a top dog now. I agree that the FS is top-heavy. This could have been addressed through targeted buyouts in a time-tested manner. This would have been much more acceptable. But that is not what we got.
Here is information on the next steps and how a RIF will be used in conjunction with hiring constraints to reshape all Fed agencies. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/implementing-the-presidents-department-of-government-efficiency-workforce-optimization-initiative/
Our local ranger district lost 8 staff over the weekend. Wilderness and rec took the biggest hits, but timber was not spared. There isn’t anyone to work the front desk.