Colorado public lands face staffing cuts amid wildfire risk

Colorado is experiencing a severe wildfire season after an unusually dry winter. Federal budget cuts and restructuring under the Trump administration have reduced the U.S. Forest Service workforce, eliminating positions that maintain trails, campgrounds and roads, and that respond to emergencies. The cuts have led to fewer park rangers, slower emergency response times, and understaffed visitor centers. In May, the Forest Service transferred management of the heavily visited Maroon Bells National Conservation Area near Aspen to Pitkin County, citing the agency’s inability to staff the area adequately. Local officials will now have to assume greater responsibility for fire mitigation, trail upkeep and visitor safety.

These reductions come despite longstanding bipartisan support for protecting Colorado’s public lands, and they raise concerns about the state’s ability to manage wildfire risk and maintain its outdoor recreation economy throughout the summer and into the fall.