Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Alt US Forest Service

North Atlantic Fire Science Exchange @northatlfiresci.bsky.social · 2d

Promoting Productivity in Eastern Oak Ecosystems is a four-part webinar series presented by the USDA Forest Service Northern and Southern Research Stations. Scientists and natural resource professionals will share actionable strategies for sustainable oak productivity. Details at buff.ly/49vQgxn

4 7

Reposted by Alt US Forest Service

Truthdig @truthdig.com · 2d

With the federal government in a shutdown, the U.S. Forest Service has paused much of the wildfire preparation and prevention work it does on its 193 million acres of national forestlands.

Shutdown Sows Confusion Across the U.S. Forest Service - Truthdig

Prescribed burns that help prevent bigger fires are on hold during shutdown while logging on federal lands continues.

www.truthdig.com

1 4 13

Reposted by Alt US Forest Service

North Atlantic Fire Science Exchange @northatlfiresci.bsky.social · 2d

Forest Service Research & Development has built the foundation for what we know about forests and fires across the country. What they do before fires—from mechanical thinning to community planning to prescribed burning—can alter how/where a fire moves & protect lives/communities. buff.ly/PfiI3qK

3 8

Reposted by Alt US Forest Service

Stephen Turner @stephenturner.us · 1d

The first interview by Carl Zimmer is a good one: "She Studied How Logging Affects Pollinators: Kim Ballare was a research ecologist with the U.S. Forest Service until her federal grant “got snatched away.” www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/s...

She Studied How Logging Affects Pollinators

www.nytimes.com

1 10 29

Reposted by Alt US Forest Service

Ralf W @raflw.bsky.social · 1d

ABasin's Henceroth said recent times "have just been brutal for our Forest Service employees locally.

...You’re friends with them, you know what they’ve been going through — uncertainty, lots of people lost their jobs, lots of people took the early-out, it has just been brutal on them.”

#dogecuts

‘Slower, and more challenging’: Colorado ski resort leaders describe impacts of staffing cuts at U.S. Forest Service

Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to correct the location of the 2025 Ski Area COO Summit. The chief operating officers of Colorado ski resorts say short staffing at the U.S. Forest Service...

www.summitdaily.com

5 19

Reposted by Alt US Forest Service

Center for Biological Diversity @biologicaldiversity.org · 1d

“Trump’s political appointees are so desperate for his approval, they’re willing to blatantly violate the law for a pat on the head,” said the Center's Stephanie Kurose. “Trump has turned government websites into campaign billboards. This isn’t public service, it’s Trump fan fiction.”

1 7 39

Reposted by Alt US Forest Service

Center for Biological Diversity @biologicaldiversity.org · 1d

We filed complaints under the #HatchAct today against the U.S. Forest Service and the Dept. of Health and Human Services for displaying partisan banners on their websites blaming Dems for the #shutdown.

The act prohibits the use of taxpayer funds for partisan purposes.

Read on ➡️ bit.ly/4h5ORtK

Two screens shots of government websites. Both have banners at the top. The Forest Service banner reads: "The Radical Left Democrats shut down the government. This government website will be updated periodically during the funding lapse for mission critical functions. President Trump has made it clear he wants to keep the government open and support those who feed, fuel, and clothe the American people." The FDA banner reads: "Mission-critical activities of FDA will continue during the Democrat-led government shutdown. Please use this site as a resource as the Trump Administration works to reopen the government for the American people."

2 26 93

Reposted by Alt US Forest Service

OPB @opb.org · 1d

Trees in three national forests in Oregon will be auctioned off for logging by the end of the month, even though the federal workers preparing these timber sales are not getting paid and many of their colleagues in the U.S. Forest Service are furloughed.

Logging in national forests in Oregon continues, despite government shutdown

The U.S. Forest Service plans to auction off trees in the Deschutes, Wallowa-Whitman and Umatilla national forests by the end of the month.

www.opb.org

6 37 48

Alt US Forest Service @altusfs.altgov.info · 1d

I noticed this as well.

Tom Richardson Ph.D. @cascadetommy.bsky.social · 7d

At 0:20, three agents pick him up and slam him head first into the ground. There is no justification for this, they were trying to seriously injure him

1 25

Alt US Forest Service @altusfs.altgov.info · 1d

Valuable reporting, I want to mention; I’m struggling to believe we have 32,000 workers now.

I think that figure included workers on payroll thru 9/30 who resigned (DRP).

~10,000 are pro firefighters (assuming few left).

What’s left is like asking a small town to run a nation’s lands 😳

wildlifesteward.bsky.social @wildlifesteward.bsky.social · 1d

@altusfs.altgov.info

Shutdown leaves public lands open but underserved - Center for Western Priorities share.google/MjGjUcjhjYeq...

Shutdown leaves public lands open but underserved - Center for Western Priorities

While the Trump administration leaves national parks open and understaffed during the government shutdown, millions of acres of other public land also technically remain open, but visitors should expe...

share.google

2 6 18

Reposted by Alt US Forest Service

Carl Zimmer @carlzimmer.com · 2d

We will be writing more of these. If you’re a scientist and your science has been disrupted, we want to hear from you: www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/c...

Has Your Scientific Work Been Cut? We Want to Hear.

www.nytimes.com

55 75

Reposted by Alt US Forest Service

Carl Zimmer @carlzimmer.com · 3d

Today my @nytimes.com colleagues and I are launching a new series called Lost Science. We interview US scientists who can no longer discover something new about our world, thanks to this year‘s cuts. Here is my first interview with a scientist who studied bees and fires. Gift link: nyti.ms/3IWXbiE

nyti.ms

140 1.8K 4.7K

Alt US Forest Service @altusfs.altgov.info · 1d

#ForestService Fam 💚:

If you find yourself struggling in any way with the uncertainty- maybe you feel angry, maybe you feel hopeless, or trapped— PLEASE remember the EAP.

You can call them at any hour, day or night. You can text, too.

It takes strength to ask for help.

eap.acentra.com/forest/

Forest - Employee Assistance Program

Forest Service – U.S. Department of Agriculture Contact Information for USDA Forest Service ONLY EAP company name: Espyr Call: 1-833-621-2989 Espyr offers a toll-free line answered by certified clini...

eap.acentra.com

2 3 14

Alt US Forest Service @altusfs.altgov.info · 1d

Hey #ForestService Fam 💚 — Before you read this— please know USDA is not mentioned here.

Further: our illustrious top boss in the White House blundered into mentioning this is politically motivated (and I’m sure any lawyer will be happy to argue, unlawful).

They’re just trying to scare people.

Politico @politico.com · 1d

The Trump admin has started firing federal workers 10 days into the shutdown, according OMB Director Russ Vought — who called the firings "substantial."

At least nine agencies appear to be affected.

Vought sounds layoff siren: 'The RIFs have begun'

At least nine agencies appear to be affected.

www.politico.com

3 12 30

Alt US Forest Service @altusfs.altgov.info · 1d

Here’s the true cost of Donald Trump’s “unconditional donation” of a $400 M luxury aircraft gifted to him by Qatar.

cc: @altspaceforce.altgov.info

The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 1d

Nothing says “America First” like letting another country put an Air Force base in Idaho

11 32 98

Reposted by Alt US Forest Service

RebelFema @rebelfema.altgov.info · 1d

"When authoritarians seize power, it is crucial to recognise courageous defenders of freedom who rise and resist," -Nobel Prize Commutee

Who is going to rise up to this level of leadership and opposition in the US?

AltSpaceForce 🚀🇺🇲 @altspaceforce.altgov.info · 1d

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has been awarded this year's Nobel Peace Prize.
"When authoritarians seize power, it is crucial to recognise courageous defenders of freedom who rise and resist," the Norwegian Nobel Committee said in its citation.

58 year old Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who lives in hiding, won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for fighting dictatorship in the country

2 21 87

Reposted by Alt US Forest Service

ALT Fish and Wildlife Service @altfws.altgov.info · 1d

In a shocking turn, the Nobel Peace Prize was NOT awarded to someone who blows up boats in international waters, frees violent mobs who attack the nation, or sends in troops on their own people.

Honestly, why would it even be a consideration?

11 44 320

Reposted by Alt US Forest Service

ALT Fish and Wildlife Service @altfws.altgov.info · 1d

I wish I had stock in an inflatable suit company.

Shoutout to KATU for live streaming of the weird and non-violent protests. katu.com/news/local/2...

Three people in identical inflatable frog costumes

An inflatable unicorn, t-Rex, and raccoon meet in Portland. They all hate ICE.

7 38 260

Reposted by Alt US Forest Service

NFFE-Forest Service Council @nffe-fsc.bsky.social · 3d

Sponsors of the original law are speaking out-- what omb and trump are proposing is illegal. We will all be back paid period. To read the whole statement from Beyer: beyer.house.gov/news/documen...

Federal employees are guaranteed back pay at the end of any shutdown by law without question or exception.

“This is clearly and unambiguously stated in the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act, which Congress passed nearly unanimously in 2019. Speaker Johnson and Senate Majority Leader Thune voted for that bill, and President Trump signed it into law.
--Don Beyer original cosponsor.

12 23

Reposted by Alt US Forest Service

Dustin Mulvaney @dustinmulvaney.bsky.social · 2d

A park employee, who spoke with SFGATE on the condition of anonymity to protect their job, said they know of only one wilderness ranger working the entire park. And technically, that person is not even a ranger, the employee said, but a volunteer.

SFGATE @sfgate.com · 2d

"It's the Wild Wild West."

Squatters, illegal BASE jumpers invade Yosemite amid federal shutdown

"It's the Wild Wild West."

bit.ly

10 50 120

Reposted by Alt US Forest Service

Wilderness Watch @wildernesswatch.bsky.social · 2d

On September 30, Wilderness Watch and Heartwood sued the U.S. Forest Service to stop construction of a 2.5-mile road through the Lusk Creek Wilderness in the Shawnee National Forest of southern Illinois

wildernesswatch.salsalabs.org/lusk-creek-r...

Lawsuit filed over illegal road plan in Lusk Creek Wilderness

Forest Service’s road plan violates the Wilderness Act.

wildernesswatch.salsalabs.org

6 16

Alt US Forest Service @altusfs.altgov.info · 3d

I would attribute to totally illegal banner to Brooke Rollins as the Secretary of Agriculture, which controls the Forest Service.

'Invisibility is power': Beauty queen's rise to Trump policy mastermind revealed

The mastermind behind former President Donald Trump's 2025 political platform has quietly outwitted her political rivals as she rose from beauty queen to powerbroker whilst quietly dodging the public ...

www.rawstory.com

4

Reposted by Alt US Forest Service

Citizens' Climate Lobby @cclusa.org · 3d

The U.S. Forest Service has treated about 4 million fewer acres than this time last year. We're way behind on thinning, prescribed fire, and related actions.

www.eenews.net/articles/shr...

Shrinking Forest Service falls behind on wildfire prevention

"Operational challenges" have hampered the use of prescribed fire to reduce potential wildfire fuel, according to Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz.

www.eenews.net

5 23 47

Reposted by Alt US Forest Service

Grist @grist.org · 4d

The ambitious plan to protect Northern California’s Plumas National Forest from wildfires.

To shield the forest and its communities from the next megafire, the Forest Service plans to burn it — intentionally.

grist.org/wildfires/th...

#CA #California #Wildfire #Disaster #Environment

The ambitious plan to protect Northern California's Plumas National Forest from wildfires

To shield the forest and its communities from the next megafire, the Forest Service plans to burn it — intentionally.

grist.org

8 25

Reposted by Alt US Forest Service

swissoulian.bsky.social @swissoulian.bsky.social · 3d

U.S. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) on Oct. 3 commended the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) for approving the advancement of the Libby Exploration Project, a copper and silver deposit in Lincoln County, Mont. #mtpol

Daines applauds USFS decision to allow mining project to move forward in Montana - Ripon Advance

riponadvance.com

5 30 54