Merkley chooses fired Ochoco National Forest worker as his guest at President Trump’s address to joint session of Congress
WASHINGTON (KTVZ) -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, announced Monday that his guest to President Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday evening will be Isabella Isaksen, a U.S. Army veteran and Olympian who recently served as the public affairs officer for Ochoco National Forest and Crooked River National Grassland in Central Oregon.
"Isaksen was one of thousands of federal public servants in Oregon and across the United States who was abruptly and illegally removed from her job," the senator said in a news release. "The mass purge of employees is harming families, the economy, and the government’s ability to provide essential services in communities nationwide."
The full news release continues below, along with a recent statement Isaksen provided to KTVZ News.
“Isabella and many other federal workers across Oregon had the rug pulled out from under them by Trump and his unelected billionaire sidekick Elon Musk. Let’s be clear: workers like Isabella aren’t fraud, government waste, or numbers on a spreadsheet. They’re real people performing essential everyday duties in our communities,” Merkley said.
“As a veteran, Olympian, and protector of our public lands, Isabella has served our country with grit and integrity. Isabella agreed to bear witness to this speech with me, as she and thousands of other public servants across this nation deserve an explanation for why they were illegally fired without any consideration to the immense expertise, value, and economic benefits they bring to our communities.“
The mass firings of federal workers pose a direct threat to the health and safety of our communities, the public, and those who rely on these jobs,” said Isaksen. “I’m honored to join Senator Merkley at the address to Congress to highlight the devastating impact of these cuts on fire response, the economic and ecological health of local communities, and those of us who have dedicated our lives to serving the American people.”
Isabella Isaksen has a long history of honorably serving our nation. In 2016, she represented the United States as a modern pentathlete at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil. A year later, she became one of the first women in the U.S. Army to become a field artillery soldier, which is a combat arms specialty.
After leaving the military, she moved to Oregon to work for the USFS, where she communicated critical public health and safety information so Central Oregonians could stay safe and connected during the destructive 2024 wildfire season. Without this position, and countless others in the USFS that provide essential support to fire crews, Oregon’s public lands, industries, and communities are at great risk.
As the top Democrat on the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, Merkley is at the forefront of fighting for wildfire prevention and recovery funding, as well as pushing back against harmful cuts that endanger public lands and the workforce that protects them. Since Trump took office, some of these efforts include leading the call in the Senate for Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to immediately take action to resolve looming staffing shortages at the National Park Service; raising the alarm on federal seasonal firefighters not being exempt from the federal hiring freeze; and demanding that payments for critical hazardous fuels mitigation work continue in Oregon and across the West.
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Statement by Isabella Isaksen:
I Am a Patriot
I have served this country in times of war and in peace, on the field of competition and the front lines of communication. I have given everything I have to the United States of America. And this week, I was told I am no longer needed.
Like so many of my fellow public servants, I received a letter stating I was being terminated due to alleged performance issues.
I was raised to believe that anything worth doing is worth doing well. Throughout my life, I have embodied this principle, giving 100% to every endeavor. When I aimed to qualify for the 2016 Olympics, I was told repeatedly that I lacked the talent and resources. I was too untalented, too poor, too unrealistic in my ambition. Yet, I persevered and made the team.
In 2017, I joined the U.S. Army as a field artillery soldier, a combat arms specialty that had only recently been opened to women. I stepped into a role that, for generations, was reserved for men, and I trained alongside my male counterparts, proving my skill, endurance, and commitment. The expectations were high, the pressure intense, but I met every challenge with discipline and determination. Though I was fortunate never to receive a combat deployment, I gave my body, mind, and soul in defense of this nation. My service was not just a job; it was a commitment to something greater than myself.
After my military service ended, I did what many veterans do. I continued serving in another capacity. I joined the U.S. Forest Service, working for the Ochoco National Forest and Crooked River National Grassland. It was an honor and a privilege to communicate vital health and safety information to the public, particularly during one of the worst fire seasons in Central Oregon’s history. My job was to ensure communities had accurate, timely information about wildfires, closures, and safety concerns. I told the stories of the dedicated men and women working the front lines. I relayed public concerns back to leadership, ensuring the voices of everyday Americans were heard.
From May to October of 2024, I worked all but two days. I sacrificed sleep, personal time, and holidays so that the people of Central Oregon could stay informed during a crisis. I poured everything I had into my job because I knew what was at stake: lives, homes, livelihoods, and the natural landscapes that define the West.
And yet, this week, I was told that my performance was inadequate. That I, and so many others like me, was no longer needed.
I Am Not Unique. I Am One of Many.
The thousands of federal employees recently terminated are just like me. Individuals who have dedicated their lives to service. While not all were primary fire personnel, we were the essential support – the militia – that keeps the system running, especially in times of crisis.
We are the ones who step in when fire resources are stretched thin, filling critical roles in fire response and management. We process the permits that allow bike races, weddings, and camping events to take place on public lands. We ensure the sustainability of timber and grazing, striking a balance between conservation and industry. We build and maintain the trails that outdoor enthusiasts rely on. We conduct wildlife and plant surveys to protect endangered species and ensure future generations can enjoy the richness of America’s landscapes. We greet visitors at the front desk, offering advice, maps, and a friendly face. We clean and care for the toilets, picnic areas, and campgrounds that millions of people use each year.
None of this work is glamorous. None of it is easy. But all of it is essential.
The people who were terminated this week were not bureaucrats sitting in ivory towers. They were rangers, biologists, permit specialists, public affairs officers, recreation planners, hydrologists, and firefighters. They were the backbone of public land stewardship in America.
In a fire season where every second counts, who will ensure communities get the critical services they need? Without us, who will steward the public lands that millions rely on? This is not just about jobs – this about safety, about stewardship, about a government that works for its people.
I Serve the American People.
I respect our Constitution, our government, and the will of the American people. I have spent my entire life in service to those ideals. I will always act in service to such, whether in uniform, on the fireline, or in the offices that manage our public lands.
This is not a political statement. This is not about left or right, conservative or progressive. This is about what it means to be a public servant. To be a patriot. To believe in something greater than yourself and dedicate your life to it.
Public servants are not in this for power, money, or prestige. We do this work because we believe in the mission. We believe in service. And despite what has happened, we will continue to serve in whatever ways we can.
We remain committed. Whether in uniform, on the fireline, in the office, or in our communities, we will continue to serve the American people. We do not walk away from responsibility, even when responsibility walks away from us.
We were told we did not perform. We were told we are no longer of use to this country.
But to you, the American people, I ask: Is this true?
