According to Central Valley Water Officials officials, the Trump administration has ordered the federal agency that operates water infrastructure in California to order fire and acquisitions, which could endanger the agency’s ability to manage dams and transport water.
Elon Musk’s government’s ruling on efficiency or thresholds was made public by unauthorized statements, according to two employees familiar with the situation.
One employee said the bureau, which employs about 1,000 employees, will lose about 100 employees in California by termination and buyouts, and eliminate about 10% of the area staff. But the larger labor force program, the bureau has been ordered to prepare to reduce its staff by 40%.
The first person to be fired is the first year employee, while the shortest person at the agency is the employee.
The Trump administration has Provide millions of government workers If they agree to leave their eight-month salary.
Employees applying for a “deferred resignation” buyout include Karl Stock, regional director of the California Basin Region. Those who accept the acquisition will leave in March and pay by September under a plan led by Musk.
union Represent federal employees have Challenged the program In court.
Internal documents reviewed by the Times show that eliminated positions include maintenance mechanics, engineers, fish biology experts, and more.
“This will greatly affect our operations,” said one reclamation employee.
The Ministry of Efficiency did not respond to a request for comment. Politico previously reported staff cuts.
The agency fears the loss of work of California water leaders. The managers of 14 water management in Central Valley Letter from February 25 In the Interior Minister Doug Burgum and Acting Reclamation Commissioner David Palumbo, making such a significant reduction in the Bureau of Reclamation would “undermine its ability to fulfill its mission of transporting water and powers”.
“Reclamation employees have a critical understanding of many of the quirks of our elderly infrastructure in the area. This knowledge is definitely Basic To ensure continuous safe and reliable water is provided throughout the state,” the Water Supply Manager said in the letter. “Effective reductions, eliminating the expertise needed to manage, operate and maintain our aging infrastructure, may negatively impact our water delivery systems and threaten public health and safety. ”
Water agencies that register issues include agricultural suppliers such as Glenn Colusa irrigation zone and municipal suppliers, such as Contra Costa Water District. The agencies obtain water from the federally operated Central Valley project, a system consisting of more than 20 dams and reservoirs that extend 400 miles and from the Sacramento-Shandong Joaquin River Delta to the farmland and communities in the San Joaquin Valley.
Sandy Day, director of public affairs at the reclamation bureau, said the agency “is still providing the necessary water and water to the U.S. public in the 17 West.”
“While we do not comment on personnel affairs, we are committed to strengthening workforce management and working closely with the Office of Personnel Management to embrace new opportunities for optimization and innovation,” Dai said in an email.
Large agricultural water treatments in the central valley include Support Trump’s recent orders To “maximize” the water for the federal government.
14 water agencies said in their letter that they are ready to work with the Ministry of the Interior and the Bureau of Reclamation to “develop a strategic and thoughtful approach to implementing actions in accordance with the President’s policies while protecting, maintaining, and effectively operating vital infrastructure.”
The Reclamation Bureau operates the California dam, including the Shasta Dam, as well as the CW “Bill” Jones Pumping plant, which absorbs water from the delta and sends it to the southern part of the Delta-Mendota Canal.
The Regional Water Administration, which consists of municipal water suppliers in the Sacramento area, also told the Trump administration that tailors’ staff will “undermine the agency’s capabilities” to operate and maintain water infrastructure and will “reduce risks to public safety.”
Jim Peifer, Executive Director of the Administration, February 24 For Burgum and Palumbo, “the flood control elements of public safety and disruptions to the national food supply should be considered.” He noted that the transport of the Water Reclamation Agency is crucial to agriculture, and this year the agency’s infrastructure protects the Sacramento area from dangerous floods.
“Our water infrastructure is outdated, and it’s no secret that it needs to be upgraded,” Peifer wrote. “Reducing effective ways to eliminate the expertise needed to move water through our aging infrastructure could undermine our water delivery system and create significant safety risks.”
PEIFER said the organization has “a strong preference for staffing” and further labor layoffs will put people living near the dam at risk.
Staff layoffs at the Reclamation Bureau coincide with similar large-scale shootings by other agencies, including NOAA and National Weather Administration. Democrats, scientists and former administration employees condemned the firings, a destructive effort that would undermine the important work of the agency, from managing the fisheries to manage and protecting beaches from pollution.
Gordon Lyford, a former employee of the Reclamation Bureau, is now vice president of the Water Alliance and a nonprofit advocacy group, said federal water infrastructure is complex and requires expertise to operate.
He noted that, for example, the Shasta and Friant dams were built in the 1940s and they increasingly needed repairs and inspections to ensure safety.
“Having too few employees can increase the chances of disaster or failure,” Lefford said.
“The current cuts for employees are meaningless. There is no evaluation or plan, and a lot of cuts are available at a time,” Lefford said. “It’s just a harm to the country and the economy.”
