A Cryin' Bloody Shame: DOGE and Storm Pummel Our Public Forests
By Joel Connelly
The U.S. Forest Service is just out with a self-examination of its national recreation infrastructure — and it isn’t pretty. The report from our half dozen national forests speaks of “critical vacancies, staff reassignments, seasonal hiring restrictions, imploding trail maintenance and partner support.”
The 164-million-acre system has been hit by two perfect storms. An atmospheric river in January washed out trails, campgrounds and access roads across the Pacific Northwest. Not to be outdone, DOGE, the Department of Government Efficiency under Elon Musk, has ravaged its corps of overseers.
Asked to sum it all up, Gary Paull, retired trails/recreation director in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, summarized by saying, “Oh boy, what a mess. Don’t know where to start.” (Perhaps with the failure to fill Paull’s position?)
Indicating alarm, Sens. Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray penned a letter last week, opining: “The [Forest Service] report warns of significant challenges in sustaining trail operations as well as potential loss of decades of investments in trail infrastructure.”
https://www.postalley.org/2026/02/11/a-cryin-bloody-shame-doge-and-storm-pummel-our-public-forests/