Forest Service Reorg - Progress or Politics

[jimh406]

You probably shouldn't try thinking, there absolutely is equivalent private sector work in every FS position.

You say you want equal rules, but you would be the first to cry and whine if that were to ever happen...and that's a fact.

FS is just one set of federal workers.

Since there aren't equal rules, we'll never know.

 

[BuzzH]

FS is just one set of federal workers.

Since there aren't equal rules, we'll never know.

Did you happen to notice the thread title?

Feel free to start another thread that matches your opinions.

 

[sapperJ24]

I don't think there is usually equivalent work in the private sector.

However, I don't personally care if they are paid less or more. I'm ok with whatever the market will bear. I do think there should be the same employment rules as the private sector. I don't think that's the case now.

I'm sure it's an outlier, but the top TVA employee recently resigned after a limit was placed on the maximum pay. He wasn't the only one, but what sense does it make for many employees of the federal government to make more than the President?

The Forest Service isn't the TVA. FS pay has long been capped at a much lower rate, I believe $228,000 for 2026.

https://openpayrolls.com/rank/highest-paid-employees/forest-service

Federal Register :: Request Access

www.federalregister.gov

Should anyone make more than the President?

 

[Straight Arrow]

Having enjoyed a long career working in the military (4 yrs active Army, 25 yrs+ Army National Guard), a decade as state employee, thirty years plus in private sector (mostly construction industry), and closely with federal contracts and federal employees ... I can tell you that the strong American work ethic prevails. However, with every human endeavor there are mostly those who are givers (productive workers) and sadly also takers (self-centered slackers). That is a common thread throughout the private sector and at every level of government. At the state and federal level unfortunately those perceived with the criticism and negativity expressed by Jimh406 and others are often hampered and restrained in certain respects by laws, regulations, and policies which are often much more stringent and restrictive than those for the private sector. It's called red tape and results in hampered productivity and higher costs.

For those who are the armchair critics of governmental employees ... you only have yourselves to blame as you voted in and support the red tape.

 

[BuzzH]

Having enjoyed a long career working in the military (4 yrs active Army, 25 yrs+ Army National Guard), a decade as state employee, thirty years plus in private sector (mostly construction industry), and closely with federal contracts and federal employees ... I can tell you that the strong American work ethic prevails. However, with every human endeavor there are mostly those who are givers (productive workers) and sadly also takers (self-centered slackers). That is a common thread throughout the private sector and at every level of government. At the state and federal level unfortunately those perceived with the criticism and negativity expressed by Jimh406 and others are often hampered and restrained in certain respects by laws, regulations, and policies which are often much more stringent and restrictive than those for the private sector. It's called red tape and results in hampered productivity and higher costs.

For those who are the armchair critics of governmental employees ... you only have yourselves to blame as you voted in and support the red tape.

I would also argue that not all the red tap, laws, and regulations the agencies are required to adhere to are always a bad thing.

For instance, a private timber company doesn't have to adhere much to any "red tape" to liquidate their timber resources. They can take that timber as cheaply and efficiently as they can by building roads, not having to worry about wildlife considerations, etc. etc. Its 100% a maximize profit and screw the rest attitude.

In response to that largely unfettered timber liquidation by private industry, I'm glad that the same thing doesn't happen on Federal land and that we have different mandates (often called red tape, laws, regulations). I like that Federal timber lands are managed in different ways than private and that they have to follow other regulations and consider more than a balance sheet.