In a significant shift aimed at reducing what some see as bureaucratic excess, the Trump administration has let go of thousands of federal employees, affecting many rural workers associated with public land.
This includes the termination of around 1,300 employees from the CDC in Atlanta and another 1,000 from the Veterans Affairs Bureau, alongside about 3,400 from the Forest Bureau.
Additionally, Republican lawmakers plan to cut social programs like Medicaid, which many low-income individuals depend on.
When thinking about federal employees, it’s easy to picture formal bureaucrats in sleek Washington offices. However, there are over 150,000 federal workers situated in rural areas, including Park Rangers and Grazing Managers. The layoffs initiated by President Trump could significantly impact rural communities that lean heavily on federal jobs for their economic stability.
The accompanying map illustrates the percentage of total wages derived from federal employment in 2023.
(The data regarding industry wages and employment is from 2023 and does not reflect the most recent layoffs. These figures are adjusted for inflation.)
In these rural regions, federal roles typically offer higher wages compared to private sector positions, and as such, the map reflects wage distribution rather than employment numbers. This wage data might provide a clearer picture of the federal government’s economic role.
Dr. Megan Lawson noted, “Higher wages tend to stimulate local spending, boosting local businesses and communities.” In 2023, private sector jobs in rural areas averaged $50,600, while federal positions averaged $79,300.
Federal employment may only represent 1.6% of the overall rural workforce, but in numerous rural regions, it stands as one of the major employers.
Lawson pointed out, “Especially in the West, where many of the layoffs impact public lands, it hampers the management of natural resources and public service.” Many communities reliant on natural resources and recreation facilities could experience negative ripple effects, although the speed at which these impacts will manifest remains uncertain.
In 2023, federal jobs contributed around $21 billion to non-metropolitan areas.
For instance, in Garfield County, Washington, located in part of the Umatilla National Forest, federal employees made up 20% of the county’s workforce. In this community, federal roles also accounted for 29% of total wages, amounting to $11 million.
Similarly, Santa Cruz County, Arizona, saw 12% of its workforce employed by federal agencies in 2023, with 25% of all wages stemming from these jobs, totaling about $199 million. This county borders Mexico and includes a significant portion of the federal land in the Coronado National Forest.
However, there’s an unclear aspect regarding whether all federal workers in these counties work for the National Forest Service, since data is not disclosed on this matter. Some might be employed by other federal entities.
Correction: An earlier version of this article mistakenly suggested that some federal employees in Santa Cruz or Garfield counties could work remotely. However, Bureau of Labor Statistics data includes employment based on actual job locations.
