The forest service could be completely contracted out with no impact.
That’s not to say others could not, but we don’t even need a forest service with any govt employees.
There are some services that the Forest Service could contract out, but I doubt that it’d cover more than twenty-five percent of their force. The problem with contractors (I know because I was one for ten years) is that you start out with 3-star and 4-star contractor companies....then after a couple of years, you have 2-star contractor companies winning compeittion.
The 2-star companies come in and replace the whole team that you had in place. By the 2nd month, you (the government POC over the project) now realize that you’ve got some characters who really don’t know much about their profession. The better guys? They come in....stay 90 days....and leave. The benefits are half as good as they were with the better companies. After three or four years, you notice sub-standard work on a daily basis. The next competition comes along...you ensure the old company doesn’t win the new competition....but another low-ball company wins it in the end....bringing another crew of low-end employees.
I would agree...if you have one project, designed for two years, and needs a limited number of people....then hire a contractor team. But for permanent projects? You will eventually hate the contractor option and find it fails you more than it helps you.