Ian Brickey, ian.brickey@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Documents obtained by the Sierra Club provide a glimpse of the scale of the Trump administration’s attacks on federal land management agencies.
Internal documents acquired from the Department of Interior demonstrate that, since the January 20 hiring freeze instituted by the Trump administration, nearly 2,600 job offers have been rescinded at the Department of the Interior, including 479 park ranger positions, 403 financial and clerical positions, and more than 150 maintenance mechanic roles. Additionally, seasonal hiring is short of the nearly 8,000 positions promised by the administration, with thousands of vacancies left unfilled. The documents were obtained by the Sierra Club through a Freedom of Information Act request.
The documents uncovered by the Sierra Club reveal rescinded offers to hundreds of vital positions, including biological science technicians, park rangers, and maintenance mechanics. This has left many public lands sites critically understaffed during the peak visitation season, potentially putting the safety of visitors at risk.
The documents also reveal at least one job offer among the many recissions – to Katrine Trampe, a DOGE affiliate and reputed Danish noble, who has been placed in charge of reviewing and canceling department contracts. The New York Times and Wired reported that Trampe was among DOGE staffers who gained access to a payroll system for government employees housed at the Interior Department. ProPublica has reported Trampe previously worked at financial firm Sixth Street.
The documents are available for viewing here.
In response, Dan Ritzman, Director of Conservation Programs at Sierra Club, released the following statement:
“This administration’s contempt for our public lands has been apparent since Day One, but these documents reveal for the first time just how damaging their actions have been. Leaving critical positions vacant and firing the staff who keep our parks running and visitors safe is setting these treasured places up for failure. It’s an abdication of responsibility that only serves the interests of the corporate polluters who back this administration.”
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.