In Valley County, the Forest Service is the third-largest employer. Dozens of its workers were laid off recently. The cuts affected non-firefighting staff, many of whom held key seasonal and permanent roles. These were probationary employees — often new hires or workers who had shifted into new jobs.
The impact is deeply felt in towns like McCall. Laid-off workers and their supporters protested on Presidents Day, drawing around 150 people. Former trail crew lead Emily Kucharski said she was terminated with no warning, despite positive performance reviews. Her main job was safety patrol during winter. She now finds herself jobless, and handing out resumes.
Backcountry ranger Bryce Spare, another laid-off worker, said he was told his position was no longer in the public interest. His supervisor strongly disagreed. Spare’s job included trail upkeep and patrolling forest areas — crucial tasks in fire prevention.
Local businesses are worried too. Without federal salaries, there’s less money flowing through town. Bookstore employee Bethany Thomas joined the protest, saying, “Our neighbors, our kids’ soccer coaches — they’re federal employees.”
The layoffs have community-wide consequences. With fire season approaching, losing support staff could put lives and property at risk. Although fire crews remain, many of those laid off help prepare for and support emergency response.
Union leaders say they fear the agency won’t be able to fulfill its mission. Federal workers are not just employees — they are critical to Idaho’s public lands and small-town economies.
The full effects of these cuts will show in the months ahead.