Hoosier National Forest offices reduce hours, days of operation at end of March
Federal workers across the U.S. are losing their jobs, including employees at the U.S. Forest Service. Reuters reported last month the Forest Service had fired 3,400 newly hired workers — although at least some may have been reinstated by court order — as part of the Trump Administration’s plan to reduce the size of the federal workforce. Politico reported earlier this month the Forest Service has plans to shed another 7,000 jobs.
The Hoosier National Forest, Indiana’s only national forest, recently announced it is reducing open hours at its offices. The Forest Service is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is responsible for managing national forests and grasslands.
Beginning the week of March 30, Hoosier National Forest offices in Bedford and Tell City will be open from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
The offices’ hours currently are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday in Bedford and 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Tell City.
The offices offer public services including national forest information, and sales of America the Beautiful passes, Trail Use Permits, national forest maps, firewood permits and nature-related merchandise.
Recent storm damage: Tornado in Orange County damages West Baden, Hoosier National Forest
In a news release, the Forest Service said it “is committed to providing public services to the best of our capacity. To ensure that appropriate staff will be available to process firewood permits, please call ahead to schedule an appointment.”
