Senators to DOI: “Rather than decimating the agency and its dedicated staff, Interior should work with Congress to bolster Reclamation’s workforce to meet the growing demands of extreme weather, population growth, and increasing pressures on our water supply systems.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.), members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, pushed the Department of the Interior to ensure there are no further federal workforce cuts to the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation). The letter comes after the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued a memo last week requiring agency heads to submit guidance on large-scale reductions in force and their reorganization plans by March 15. Due to the chaos of the Trump Administration’s reckless cuts, Reclamation is already set to lose about 100 employees in California, which is 10 percent of its regional staff.
Despite its tradition of operating as a lean agency, Reclamation supports and operates many critical California water management projects and delivers water to more than 31 million Americans and 10 million acres of farmland. This farmland managed by Reclamation produces over 60 percent of the nation’s vegetables and more than 25 percent of its fruits and nuts.
“Any federal dollars ‘saved’ from a reduction in staffing will ultimately cost taxpayers more through disrupted supply chains, increased burdens on state taxpayers, and emergency response due to the instability created by these reductions,” wrote the Senators. “Aging dams, reservoirs, and conveyance systems require continuous monitoring and maintenance, and without adequate staffing, the risk of infrastructure failures increases. Such failures could have catastrophic consequences, including flooding, water contamination, and severe disruptions to California’s agricultural and urban economies.”
“We strongly urge you to reconsider the termination of these critical Reclamation employees and halt further workforce reductions at Reclamation,” continued the Senators. “Rather than decimating the agency and its dedicated staff, Interior should work with Congress to bolster Reclamation’s workforce to meet the growing demands of extreme weather, population growth, and increasing pressures on our water supply systems.”
Padilla and Schiff highlighted three essential water projects that depend on the expertise of Reclamation staff for managing water in the West, where water systems are extremely complex and are closely coordinated with state, tribal, and local authorities:
- The Klamath Project provides critical water supplies to farms, wildlife refuges, and tribal communities in Oregon and California. Reclamation staff are essential to balancing competing demands for tribal cultural protection, agricultural water deliveries, and ecological health.
- The Central Valley Project (CVP) operates in tandem with the State Water Project (SWP) to supply water to farms, businesses, and residents. The two systems are deeply interconnected, and CVP staff is essential to SWP operations and water deliveries. The CVP is a federal responsibility, and maintaining full Reclamation staffing is essential to protect California’s water supply and agricultural economy.
- The Lower Colorado Regional Office operates Hoover Dam — one of the federal government’s most critical infrastructure assets. Its staff provide real-time data and operational oversight that is vital for Colorado River management, and for ensuring reliable water deliveries to three Western states, millions of people, and some of the nation’s most productive farmland.
The Senators also highlighted concerns from many California water contractors who have warned Interior Secretary Burgum against eliminating essential Reclamation staff with the knowledge necessary to safely and reliably deliver water throughout California. Many of these contractors have emphasized that Reclamation is a service organization, not funded by taxpayers but rather water and power customers.
Last week, Senators Padilla and Schiff urged the Department of the Interior to immediately stop its freeze of Inflation Reduction Act funding for the Lower Colorado River System Conservation and Efficiency Program, which is managed by the Bureau of Reclamation.
Full text of the letter is available here and below:
Dear Secretary Burgum, Acting Commissioner Palumbo, Director Stock, and Director Johnson:
We write to express serious concerns regarding (i) alleged staff terminations at the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) in California and (ii) the recent Office of Personnel Management (OPM) memo calling for significant federal workforce reductions. On March 3, 2025, it was reported that Reclamation is set to lose about 100 employees in California, which is 10 percent of its regional staff. In the strongest terms, we ask that you provide further information and justification about these reductions and ensure that any additional cuts at the Department of the Interior (Interior) do not further impact Reclamation, an already lean agency that delivers water to more than 31 million Americans and 10 million acres of farmland that produce 60% of the nation’s vegetables and 25% of its fruits and nuts.
Reclamation staff are indispensable to managing water in the West, where water systems are highly technical, complex, and closely coordinated with state, tribal, and local authorities. For example:
The Klamath Project provides critical water supplies to farms, wildlife refuges, and tribal communities in Oregon and California. Reclamation staff are essential to balancing competing demands for Tribal cultural protection, agricultural water deliveries, and ecological health.
The Central Valley Project (CVP) operates in tandem with the State Water Project (SWP) to supply water to farms, businesses, and residents. The two systems are deeply interconnected, making CVP staffing essential to SWP operations and water deliveries. As the CVP is a federal responsibility, Interior must ensure it remains fully staffed to protect California’s water supply and agricultural economy.
The Lower Colorado Regional Office operates Hoover Dam – one of the federal government’s most critical infrastructure assets. Its staff provide real-time data and operational oversight essential for managing the Colorado River, ensuring reliable water deliveries to three western states, millions of people, and some of the nation’s most productive farmland.
As a large coalition of California federal water contractors wrote to you in the attached letter, “In our experience, the vast majority of staff throughout Reclamation’s California-Great Basin region is comprised of dedicated, talented federal employees, possessing specialized skills, knowledge, and the relevant and specific experience necessary to safely and efficiently manage, operate and maintain one of the largest, most complex water projects in the world… This knowledge is absolutely essential to assuring the continued safe and reliable delivery of water throughout the state.” The staffing cuts previously made by and deferred resignations conducted through this Administration have already led to the loss of many experienced employees. As the water contractors point out, additional losses will threaten public health and safety and negatively impact the water delivery system for the nation’s largest state economy.
Any federal dollars “saved” from a reduction in staffing will ultimately cost taxpayers more through disrupted supply chains, increased burdens on state taxpayers, and emergency response due to the instability created by these reductions. Aging dams, reservoirs, and conveyance systems require continuous monitoring and maintenance, and without adequate staffing, the risk of infrastructure failures increases. Such failures could have catastrophic consequences, including flooding, water contamination, and severe disruptions to California’s agricultural and urban economies.
In light of these challenges, please answer the following questions by March 13, 2025.
1. What analyses, if any, have been completed to determine the budgetary and broader economic impacts of losing Reclamation employees that have already been or will be lost?
2. How does Interior plan to make up for the current and anticipated loss of specialized knowledge about California’s water systems, including the CVP, given these terminations?
3. How will Interior and Reclamation continue to manage, operate, and maintain California’s aging infrastructure in light of these staffing losses?
4. According to OPM’s FedScope, there were 5,739 employees at Reclamation as of September 2024. How many Reclamation employees are there as of March 6, 2025?
5. What are the job functions and employment locations of Reclamation employees in California who have been terminated and accepted deferred resignation?
6. Please describe in detail, the degree to which Mr. Elon Musk and/or representatives from the “Department of Government Efficiency” or “United States DOGE Service” have been involved in any part of these firings within Interior and Reclamation.
We strongly urge you to reconsider the termination of these critical Reclamation employees and halt further workforce reductions at Reclamation. Rather than decimating the agency and its dedicated staff, Interior should work with Congress to bolster Reclamation’s workforce to meet the growing demands of extreme weather, population growth, and increasing pressures on our water supply systems.
We welcome the opportunity to further discuss these concerns and would be happy to host you for a visit at any time to give you a tour of California’s vital water infrastructure and introduce you to the outstanding Reclamation staff in California.
Sincerely,