Flake Letter Urges USDA to Preserve Firefighting Capabilities in Arizona

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) today sent a letter to the Acting Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) urging the department to use its authority to ensure its continued ability to fight wildfires following the implementation of a hiring freeze on federal civilian employees.

"Catastrophic wildfires in Arizona pose a significant risk to our state's reliable water supply, rural communities, the tourist economy, and wildlife," said Flake. "Any action that could have a negative impact on the ability to reduce the fire risk and fight wildfire in Arizona is simply unacceptable."

The signed letter can be viewed here http://www.flake.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/739a2287-f109-49d7-9d19-6829ae7bed1c/02.01.17-flake-letter-to-usda-re-wildfire-and-hiring-freeze.pdf.

The text of the letter can be viewed below.

Background:

* On Jan. 23, 2017, President Donald Trump signed a presidential memorandum ordering a hiring freeze on all civilian employees across the executive branch. The memorandum included an exemption for military personnel, while also providing federal agencies and departments the authority to exempt certain positions that are necessary to meet national security or public safety responsibilities. Read the order here https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/01/23/presidential-memorandum-regarding-hiring-freeze.

* The U.S. Forest Service, an agency at the USDA, typically utilizes nearly 10,000 seasonal employees each year for wildfire-related activities.

* The USDA is currently seeking clarification as to whether its seasonal employees with wildfire-related or other public safety responsibilities are exempted from the hiring freeze.

February 1, 2017

Mr. Michael Young

Acting Secretary

U.S. Department of Agriculture

1400 Independence Ave, N.W.

Washington, DC 20250

Dear Acting Secretary Young,

I would like to ask for your prompt action to ensure the continued ability to fight wildfires after the implementation of a freeze on hiring of Federal civilian employees. As you know, catastrophic wildfires in Arizona pose a significant risk to the state's reliable water supply, rural communities, the tourist economy, and wildlife. Any action that could have a negative impact on the ability to reduce fire risk and fight wildfire in Arizona is simply unacceptable.

The Presidential Memorandum Regarding the Hiring Freeze promulgated on January 23, 2017 contains a clear exception to the freeze, declaring that the "head of any executive department or agency may exempt from the hiring freeze any positions that it deems necessary to meet national security or public safety responsibilities." I understand the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) typically utilizes nearly 10,000 seasonal employees each year for wildfire-relate activities. I urge you to either clarify that USFS seasonal employees are necessary for public safety or ask that you seek an exemption from the Director of the Office of Personnel Management for these seasonal employees.

I thank you in advance for your continued time and attention to these issues. As always, I ask that this matter be handled in strict accordance with all applicable agency rules, regulations, and ethical guidelines.

Sincerely,

JEFF FLAKE

United States Senator

Read this original document at: http://www.flake.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=08B102B1-704A-45AA-B1F0-07291E35812E