To the editor:
On Feb. 26, we delivered some questions to the office of Jason Smith to learn more about conditions in the 8th Congressional District. We have had no response from the congressman so, for your readers’ information, we will provide the answers in this and future letters to the editor.
Our district is the sixth poorest district in the entire nation, so we wanted to know about economic conditions here since Jan. 20, 2025. We asked 1) how many employees in federal natural resource agencies have been laid off in the district, and 2) what is the value of their expertise?
In speaking with people who are familiar with recent changes to their agencies, we learned that 42 employees (statewide) of the Natural Resource Conservation Service, 14 employees of the Mark Twain National Forest, 13 employees of US Geological Survey, and 10 employees of the National Park Service have been laid off. (If anyone has different numbers, please let us know by replying to this letter. The total number of laid-off federal workers in the 8th District is significantly higher, as this counts only workers in natural resource fields, not the VA, SSA, IRS, etc.)
These fired natural resource employees work to conserve soil, advise farmers, manage our forest and mineral resources, monitor natural hazards such as earthquakes and floods, enhance visitor experience at OzarkS National Scenic Riverways, and provide many other services.
Forestry in Missouri is a $10 billion industry and accounts for 46,000 jobs. The top-producing forestry counties are in the 8th District. Soil conservation ensures that agriculture — a $7.9 billion industry in the state — can continue to be productive for the next generation of farmers. The agriculture sector, which includes businesses and industrIES that sell to farmers, accounts for $88 billion in Missouri. Tourists to the Current and Jacks Fork rivers account for $73 million in income and provide 873 jobs. (Sources: Missouri Forest Products Association, MO Department of Agriculture, OzarkS National Scenic Riverways.)
Caring for natural resources enriches our district and state.
The laid-off workers can’t claim all responsibility for this billion-dollar revenue, but we attest to their dedication and effectiveness. Likely results of their absence will be uncontrolled forest fires, disintegrating trails, soil washed into streams, dirty or nonexistent visitor facilities, shuttered stores and other businesses, less revenue for the state and counties, and the “wild west” atmosphere that has hurt tourism at ONSR in the past, among other negative impacts.
The laid-off workers will lose their wages, health insurance, pension and maybe even their homes and ability to feed their families. They may claim unemployment for a short period of time, which will be paid by employers and other taxpayers.
This new group, Voters for Informed Action, is committed to providing accurate information about conditions in the 8th Congressional District so voters can make wise decisions about the direction of our district, state and nation.
