Many of Trump’s efforts to reshape the federal government have been challenged in court, often by employee unions or Democrat-led states that argue such decisions fall to Congress.
Some have faced temporary restraining orders or legal setbacks, while others have won short-term victories. Nearly all the cases are still navigating their way through the federal court system.
In addition, some federal employees have filed complaints directly with the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), a panel that enforces worker rights within the government. Last week, a judge blocked Trump’s efforts to fire the chair of the MSPB.
On Wednesday, one of the board’s decisions comes into effect, forcing the US Department of Agriculture — which oversees the Forest Service — to temporarily reinstate many of its fired probationary workers.
All of the legal wrangling has created a sense of confusion and uncertainty about the state of the workforce, during a time when many federal fire crews are preparing for the warm-weather months when fires tend to be more intense.
“Mentally, it’s pretty stressful,” said a helitack squad leader for the Department of the Interior with about 10 years of experience. Helitack crews are ferried to fires via helicopter.
“There are so many rumours going around. I’ve tried to limit my intake of information by getting off of social media.”
The helitack leader believes that, no matter what happens with the legal challenges and the staffing cuts, the government’s preparations for fire season will be delayed.
“Even if they could push a button and give the green light for all of these jobs, the start date is still going to be pushed back,” he explained. “And if someone joins a crew late that can definitely impact the preparedness of a crew and their overall ability to safely fight fire.”
A wildland firefighter who was recently preparing to join an engine crew with a federal agency in southern California said that she was told her onboarding would be delayed while the effect of the federal changes was worked out. She is unsure if she will be able to keep her job.
She has five years of experience with elite hotshot crews. But she was classified as a probationary worker after she accepted a job at a different federal agency to be closer to a family member experiencing health issues.
“This is my entire life,” she said in a message to Al Jazeera. “If this is taken away from me for no reason, I’ll have nothing.”
The uncertainty around hiring decisions has also created a sense of whiplash, where workers can receive reassuring news one day, only to see it reversed shortly after.
The hotshot crew member said that, in late February, she was told that a court had struck down some of the firings and that she would likely be able to move forward with her new firefighting position.
But a little more than one week later, she received a phone call informing her that she had been fired in her probationary period.
“I’ve broken my body to get here. I’ve almost died multiple times doing this job for absolutely no money,” she said. “And now my reward is getting fired for no reason.”