Rep. Panetta Invites Terminated Los Padres National Forest Employee Who Worked on Wildfire Prevention to President Trump’s Address to Congress
Monterey, CA – U.S. Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) announced today that a terminated Los Padres National Forest employee, Ben Vizzachero, will be his guest to the President’s Address to Congress. Vizzachero worked on wildfire prevention in the Los Padres National Forest. He recently was let go from his duties due to this Administration’s terminations at the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). California’s 19th Congressional District boasts more than 7,000 dedicated, non-partisan civil servants who provide services to our community and country.
On February 15, the Administration fired 3,400 USFS employees, 10% of the agency’s workforce, despite Congress having fully budgeted their salaries beyond legislated funding. The cuts included six employees at Los Padres National Forest, jeopardizing crucial wildfire prevention and environmental conservation work.
“The Administration’s firing of thousands of Forest Service employees like Ben is a move that endangers our forests, public lands, and communities,” said Rep. Panetta. “As a wildfire prevention expert, Ben was working hard to provide ways in which we can prevent wildfires and ensure responsible management of our public lands. These terminations jeopardize those services, put our communities at risk, and have a very real impact on the lives of dedicated public servants. I am honored to have Ben as my guest to the President’s address as a way to show that our community in the 19th Congressional District stands with those who serve and provide invaluable ways to help protect our communities from wildfires.”
Vizzachero, who worked on wildfire prevention projects, was one of the first employees unjustly terminated despite receiving a recent raise, promotion, and excellent performance reviews. His dismissal, along with the Administration’s freeze on critical USFS funding, has stalled essential fire mitigation efforts across California.
“President Trump and Elon Musk’s illegal attacks on the federal workforce have not only devastated the livelihoods of tens of thousands of dedicated public servants, but their actions also undermine the Forest Service's ability to prevent and suppress wildfires, landslides, and other natural disasters,” said Ben Vizzachero. “DOGE’s cuts also impair the maintenance and protection of our water, roads, trails, cultural and tribal sites, scenery, wildlife habitat, and more. The U.S. public land system is an international paragon of conservation; it is essential to the American economy and cultural identity. If the Trump Administration truly cared about making America great, they would invest in hiring more proud union workers to steward our lands. From leading scientific experts to humble park rangers, we are the people who keep America beautiful.”
Rep. Panetta joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers in urging the President to reverse the layoffs and answer critical oversight questions about the firings. The Administration has yet to respond. There are more than 39 active lawsuits levied by labor unions and other civic organizations challenging the Administration’s far reaching and destructive termination of federal civil servants.
“The President callously terminating Ben and thousands of other federal workers under the guise of efficiency is both shameful and dangerous,” said NFFE National President Randy Erwin. “These are Americans who have given their livelihoods to protecting our public lands and making their country a better place. By indiscriminately firing experts like Ben, President Trump is choosing to let our public lands deteriorate and be ravaged by wildfires. The country must understand the dire consequences of the Trump Administration’s reckless attacks on the civil service. Thank you to Congressman Panetta for giving Ben a platform and for his commitment to supporting federal workers.”
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