June 9, 2026 2:50 a.m.  

Oregon’s U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley have demanded that the Trump administration immediately reinstate 13 federal employees in Oregon and Washington state who received “reassignment letters” terminating their roles at the Bureau of Land Management in May, with no apparent plan at the start of fire season to replace them.

A joint release said the employees worked in BLM district offices as Public Affairs Officers or Public Information Officers, often tasked with communicating life-saving information to communities about fire conditions and evacuations. Some of the employees were also designated ‘red card’ holders, qualifying them to support wildland firefighting operations.

In a letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, the senators said, “It is extremely concerning that there are now zero on-the-ground, district level personnel to communicate critical public safety information to our constituents, the media and local officials.” The letter continued, “Removing these employees…at the very start of fire season with no apparent plan to replace them leaves communities across our state without the information and resources they need to stay safe during fires; this may have life-threatening consequences.”

The release said the most recent cuts will make it harder for local communities to get up-to-date information about fires and evacuation notices.