Federal workforce reductions earlier this year have raised concerns about the future safety and management of public lands in Colorado. In February, the Trump Administration terminated a significant number of federal employees responsible for overseeing these areas, including those working with the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), National Parks, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Colorado, renowned for its 11 national forests, four national parks, and wealth of outdoor recreation opportunities, now faces staffing shortages that are impacting land management efforts. The White River National Forest has seen Forest Service staff reduced by 30%, according to Sheehan Meager, a former Rocky Mountain Land Stewardship intern there.
Meager warned that this reduction could compromise public safety as early as this summer. “That’s fewer people to patrol areas, maintain bathrooms, cut down hazardous trees, and monitor campgrounds. With the snowpack levels we have right now, I’m really worried about wildfire risk,” he said.
During his time working as a dispersed ranger, Meager encountered multiple instances of campsites with fires that had not been fully extinguished, highlighting potential hazards from insufficient oversight.
The consequences of these federal cuts extend beyond land maintenance staff. Lindsay Fallon, a mother from Carbondale and outdoor advocate, shared how the reductions have affected river recreation. Fallon described annual overnight river trips where rangers typically check permits and warn boaters about hazards such as straining trees and changing water levels. This year, however, she noticed the absence of rangers at the river put-in, a highly unusual occurrence compared to previous years.
“These rangers, whether from the BLM or Forest Service, play a crucial role in ensuring people protect the land and stay safe,” Fallon said. “We all live in Colorado because it’s a beautiful place, and we want to keep it that way.”
With these federal staff cuts impacting public land management across the state, officials urge visitors to take extra care to protect natural areas and practice safe, lawful outdoor recreation.
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