Forest Service Firefighters Contradict Chief's "Fully Staffed" Claim to Congress

Nine US Forest Service firefighters told the Guardian the agency faced a critical staffing shortage in summer 2026, directly contradicting chief Tom Schultz's July testimony to Congress that the workforce is "fully staffed and equipped to respond aggressively to every unplanned ignition." The firefighters spoke anonymously because they are barred from disclosing the information publicly.