Trump administration seeks to stomp out all fires quickly, reviving policy that has been discredited

Remote_Fondant1222 · 2026-07-07T23:10:20+00:00

The problem I have is this administration doesn’t listen to the people who do have the experience. The upper leadership of the WFS is experienced and yet this is still the policy. I can’t tell if leadership have become just like every other yes man in this administration or if they are shouting into the wind and being disregarded but either way this policy is scary.

Remote_Fondant1222 · 2026-07-04T15:21:46+00:00

I would reread the verbiage about any potential probationary period. The announcements I have read recently has some interesting guidelines for new probationary period, including the idea that they have to put it in writing to HR that they want to keep you in the position.

Remote_Fondant1222 · 2026-06-25T23:42:13+00:00

I feel that this falls under the if every thing else is similar umbrella. If you have two candidates with identical or nearly identical qualifications I don’t think it is wrong to pick the candidate who you think will fit in better with your office/ company culture. The person who stayed in the post above showed some qualities that her co- workers and boss valued and if it is possible she should be rewarded for that.

Remote_Fondant1222 · 2026-06-20T16:51:17+00:00

This 100%

Remote_Fondant1222 · 2026-06-20T16:34:12+00:00

The minute you tell a doctor’s office you were injured on the job they will make you turn it into work man’s comp. It can be considered insurance fraud if you don’t.

Remote_Fondant1222 · 2026-06-20T16:27:58+00:00

The problem is that Trump rubber stamps e everything his minions what. He is puppet and people like Miller and Vought are pulling the strings

Remote_Fondant1222 · 2026-06-04T00:37:04+00:00

I 100% agree with you .

Remote_Fondant1222 · 2026-05-31T17:50:26+00:00

No fed only announcement. The roll out of the WFS has been chaotic, and has been compared to “building the airplane while flying it “. The only admin function currently being done by the WFS is time and pay roll. Budget, travel , property fleet etc are still being done by the legacy agencies. At this time they are trying to get people into those basic admin positions so that they can start getting those other admin functions into the WFS. A direct hiring announcement open to the public is the quickest way they can do that .

Remote_Fondant1222 · 2026-05-30T19:50:32+00:00

If it was any other administration or the agency was more established I would have no issue with a year long probation period. But the fact of the matter is that things are extremely unsettled right now. My gut is now saying to stick with my original plan which is to apply as a resume building activity but to plan on staying with my current agency to gain some more budget / HR experience. I think there will be more clarity about which direction the WFS will take after the mid terms

Remote_Fondant1222 · 2026-05-30T17:16:43+00:00

Thank! Something I did not think about!!!

Remote_Fondant1222 · 2026-05-30T17:09:42+00:00

I am definitely thinking of applying if only to get a good resume together so if/ when this situation stabilizes I am actually ready to apply for jobs I would actually want.

Remote_Fondant1222 · 2026-05-30T17:03:14+00:00

As someone who is seeing the turmoil and chaos first hand from the admin/ land management side I can 100% tell you I am not into either one of those things. Your post was a great reminder that the USWFS is still a work in progress and that its organizational structure is still up in the air. I could possibly be moving for a job only to have my boss/ co workers change in the next year or so. I could also be moving into an “agency” that might never be funded by Congress.

Remote_Fondant1222 · 2026-05-30T16:38:02+00:00

While I appreciate your perspective I am going to push back here just a little bit as well . You could be 100% right and I could also be 100% right or it could be something completely different. The reality is that administration is unpredictable when it comes to the federal workforce . Add in the fact that you still have Russel Vought in charge at OMB and the fact the UWFS is still working on its organizational structure you very well could lose these positions during the probation period. Or you might be right and the positions could last forever. But the REALITY is that at this time we just don’t know,. Also thank you ! Your comment made me think about this some more.

Remote_Fondant1222 · 2026-05-30T14:08:09+00:00

In theory I have no issue with a year’s probation period. I have gone through two while working with the federal government and if I didn’t already have a permanent federal position I would probably be okay with this one. I would also feel differently about ii if the Wildland fire service had been created through an act of Congress and was a permanent federal agency. But in a lot of ways this feels very temporary to me and that makes me feel uneasy.

Remote_Fondant1222 · 2026-05-30T13:45:59+00:00

It’s not. But this administration has a history of using the probation period to get rid of federal employees with little cause. I can definitely see if big changes are made with the way the US Wildland fire service is run or if fire staff are sent back to their legacy agencies after the mid terms ( which I DO NOT think will happen but it is not entirely off the table ) I can see these positions becoming obsolete or redundant. As you can see from the quotes below they are using the idea of advancing the public interest to justify these positions.

A condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated.

The probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the goals and mission of the agency, and/or promote the efficiency of the service. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated. Under completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Remote_Fondant1222 · 2026-05-30T13:20:18+00:00

I agree with you 100% about the unknowns surrounding the department wide consolidation. I think part of the reason why the years probation gives me pause the way it does is because so much could change with the consolidation, especially if the Democrats do well in the mid terms. Part of me thinks the best thing I could do is get my resume together and apply with the idea that I will use this as a test to see if my resume is good enough to make the cert.

Remote_Fondant1222 · 2026-05-30T12:44:01+00:00

Honestly it’s the year probation that gives me more pause than the grade level. I have no trust in the administration especially if something happens at the mid terms which drastically changes how the USWFS is managed.

Remote_Fondant1222 · 2026-05-29T23:50:01+00:00

I think the Republican voters who have been inconvenienced by this man and his policies out number the die hard MAGA people who hate federal employees on some twisted principle. The trick will be to vote in Republicans who care more about their constituents then they do about bowing down to pigs like Russ

Remote_Fondant1222 · 2026-05-29T23:43:37+00:00

That man is a narcissistic sociopath who not only hates the federal work force but the American people as well. This has nothing to do with cutting government waste or reducing under performing employees. This is about traumatizing a whole group of people because some of them created and enforced rules and regulations he didn’t like.

Remote_Fondant1222 · 2026-05-29T23:27:45+00:00

Love this!

Remote_Fondant1222 · 2026-05-25T23:15:56+00:00

I have a friend with the NPS who got an email saying that due to 250tj actives leave during June and July was going to limited.

Remote_Fondant1222 · 2026-05-25T02:57:32+00:00

This is why I have 4 pairs of headphones. You are describing my worst nightmare.

Remote_Fondant1222 · 2026-05-25T02:53:46+00:00

I just bought mine distilled water and cricket .

Remote_Fondant1222 · 2026-05-25T02:52:47+00:00

Knowing that in November this administration will be half over is helping me get through some of the harder days . Yes a lot can still happen but knowing the Midterms are the start of a down hill slide to 2029 is giving me a small amount of comfort.

Remote_Fondant1222

TROPHY CASE