Forest Service chief expresses ‘frustration’ over staffing loss in retirement announcement

The head of the Forest Service announced Wednesday that he will retire and expressed “frustration” over the Trump administration’s staff cuts.

In a resignation letter posted online, Forest Service Chief Randy Moore said he will leave the agency Monday.

In the letter, Moore expressed frustration at what was reportedly thousands of layoffs at the forest management agency.

“The past several weeks [have] been incredibly difficult. As part of a broader effort to reduce the size of the federal government, we parted ways with colleagues we worked alongside who successfully contributed to our mission, and who were valued members of our Forest Service team,” he said.

“If you are feeling uncertainty, frustration, or loss, you are not alone. These are real and valid emotions that I am feeling, too,” he added.

In the letter, Moore also wrote that the decision to fire these employees was made “at a level above our organization.”

President Biden appointed Moore in 2021 to lead the Forest Service. Previously, he served as Pacific Southwest regional forester from 2007-21.

The Forest Service is housed within the Department of Agriculture and manages national forests. In his note, Moore said the agency also provides drinking water for 80 million people and issues leases to allow for oil and gas drilling.

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Forest Service chief expresses ‘frustration’ over staffing loss in retirement announcement

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