"I'm suffering:" Holiday massacre of federal workforce Is a rude awakening for rural westerners

At least 3,400 people were fired from the US Forest Service and about 2,300 from the Department of Interior over the holiday weekend .

The impact on public land and wildlife, observers say, will be felt for years .

Most of the employees were “probationary” which meant they had been in their current positions for less than one year .

The White House announced the “workforce optimization” initiative on February 11 as part of an executive order to save money.

The group maintained 30 backcountry toilets and packed out 1,000 piles of improperly disposed human waste each season in the Enchantment Special Use Permit Area in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness .

Cody Anderson was the NEPA coordinator and wilderness manager in the Wrangell Ranger District in the Tongass National Forest .

He said he worked seasonal jobs with the BLM with “above satisfactory” reviews before landing a permanent job with the Forest Service .