Ian Brickey, ian.brickey@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressional Democrats have introduced legislation to block further mass layoffs at critical federal agencies.
Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced a trio of bills that would block purges at the Department of the Interior, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Department of Energy. Companion legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA) and Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA).
All three agencies have faced massive cuts in staffing since DOGE implemented chaotic mass firings of agency employees in March. Those firings led to the sudden departures of thousands of staffers, including park rangers, wildland firefighters, and other critical support staff. The Trump administration’s proposed FY26 budget calls for additional funding and staff cuts at these agencies.
In response, Jackie Ostfeld, director of Sierra Club’s Outdoors for All campaign, released the following statement:
“The Trump administration has taken a sledgehammer to the agencies that are tasked with stewarding our public lands, and the results have been disastrous. These landscapes have been passed down for generations, if we’re going to pass them down to our own children, they need staff and funding, not cuts and chaotic layoffs. This legislation would end the chaos and help restore these treasured places, and we urge Congress to pass it quickly.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.