Why can't federal firefighters be hired right now during winter months?

Federal firefighters cannot be hired during winter months due to administrative hiring freezes, despite this being a critical training period. This timing is particularly problematic as winter is when firefighting teams prepare and obtain necessary qualifications to respond effectively during summer fire season. Any delay in the lengthy onboarding process directly impacts team readiness, potentially compromising their ability to protect communities when wildfires occur. This hiring obstacle affects crucial federal agencies including the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and National Park Service, which collectively employ over 15,000 career and temporary firefighters.